Trump dismisses concern Iran war will derail China trip next month: interview
US president says war is ‘very close to over’ but also ‘we’re not finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly’
In an interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo that aired on Wednesday, Trump said he did not think the war would “change the dynamic” of his coming visit to China.
Iranians dismiss Trump threats to block Hormuz Strait
Trump said he had exchanged letters with Xi, asking that China not give weapons to Iran. “He wrote a letter saying that essentially he’s not doing that,” the US president said, referring to Xi’s response. Trump did not say when the letters were exchanged.
Trump’s original plan to visit Xi in China from late March was postponed until mid-May because of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, although Beijing has never confirmed the dates.
“President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly, and very well!” Trump said in a social media post minutes after the interview was aired.
He told Fox Business that “there’s never been anybody tougher on China than me, but I also have a good relationship with President Xi, and that’s a good thing”, and again touted the tariff he said was imposed on Beijing because of fentanyl and the duties on Chinese cars.