President Trump lands in China for high-stakes summit
WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - President Donald Trump landed in Beijing Wednesday morning, having last visited on office during his first term nearly a decade ago.
Tariffs and Taiwan will be key topics, but could be overshadowed by the war with Iran.
This comes as President Trump faces economic headwinds, with a new report showing the highest inflation in three years.
Trump arrived in China for a closely-watched summit with President Xi Jinping.
"He's a friend of mine, and we're gonna have a great meeting. We do a lot of business with China," the president shared.
Trade between the world's two largest economies will be at the forefront, and so will the war with Iran.
China is Tehran's most powerful ally and biggest consumer of Iranian oil.
That leverage could be key in pressuring Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, though the president publicly downplayed the need for Jinping to intervene.
"I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other. We'll win, we'll win it peacefully or otherwise," Trump explained.
As the president looks to emphasize stability with China, and his relationship with Jinping, some allies on Capitol Hill urging a tougher stance.
"Realize that the person you're talking to is propping up Russia and Iran," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
The meeting comes amid new signs of trouble for the U.S. economy, with inflation hitting 3.8%, the highest level in three years, now outpacing wage growth.
Energy costs are driving the surge, with gas prices up 50% since the war started, taking a toll on small businesses that rely on deliveries.
"My entire tank is my entire paycheck now," said Noah Thomas, a driver.
"Things could not be going worse right now," said Benjamin Biancini, another driver.
When asked if the impact on Americans' finances motivates him to make a deal with Iran, the president said, "The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about American financial situation. I don't think about anybody."
The White House adding that the president's top responsibility is Americans' safety and security.
The detailed discussions are set to begin Thursday, with an emphasis on stabilizing a tariff truce, though aides said there's no comprehensive trade deal on the agenda.
Other thorny topics include competition over technology, Taiwan and Chinese restrictions on freedom.
