As U.S. President Donald Trump met with China's president, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Thursday for two days of bilateral talks, body language experts noted subtle power dynamics during the initial handshake, highlighting a potentially tense relationship. During their discussions, which covered issues like Iran’s nuclear program, trade disputes, and Taiwan, Trump described Xi as his "friend," though acknowledged limited agreement. He also revealed he had coined a new nickname for Democrats: “Dumacrats.” In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump claimed to have made “fantastic trade deals” during the visit but faced criticism when announcing only 200 Boeing aircraft orders were secured from China. Xi warned that mishandling Taiwan could push relations between Beijing and Washington into a "dangerous place," adding pressure on both leaders. The talks also included discussions about maintaining a fragile truce in their trade war, with some progress noted but significant goals unmet.
Next steps include negotiations to extend the current trade truce beyond its expiry later this year and continued efforts by both sides to manage future trade disputes. Trump’s approval ratings may depend on tangible results from his visit as he looks ahead to midterm elections.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Friday, May 15, 2026 based on reporting from 8 verified news sources across 2 countries. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.