Trump Expects Fair Deal with Xi Jinping... "Tariffs Helped Us Succeed with Korea and Japan"

"Maintaining a Good Relationship with President Xi," Trump Reiterates
With One Year Until the Midterms, Warns "If We Lose, the Left Will Take Away Our Achievements"

President Donald Trump of the United States stated on the 21st (local time) that regarding the U.S.-China trade negotiations, "I will meet with President Xi Jinping of China in Korea and discuss many things," adding, "I believe we will do well in the negotiations."

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by AP Yonhap News

After making these remarks during a luncheon he hosted at the White House Rose Garden Club, President Trump continued, "We have also done well (in negotiations) with Japan, Korea, and Europe," and commented, "Without tariffs, we would not have been able to reach such agreements."

Previously, President Trump had announced plans to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese products starting from the 1st of next month in response to China's export controls on rare earth elements. If the additional tariffs are implemented, the total tariffs China would have to pay to the United States would rise to 157%. President Trump said, "I maintain a good relationship with President Xi," and added, "I expect we can reach a fair agreement with him." He went on to say, "I want to make a good deal with President Xi, and I hope President Xi makes a good deal for China," repeatedly emphasizing, "But that agreement must be fair."

President Trump also stated, "We are going to have a very successful meeting. Clearly, many people are looking forward to it," but added, "It's possible the meeting might not take place. Someone might say, 'I don't want to meet. The situation is too tense.' However, it's not really tense-it's just business." He then declared, "I will negotiate excellently on behalf of the entire American people."

In addition, with just over a year remaining until the midterm elections (November 3, 2026), which will serve as a midterm evaluation of the current administration and involve the election of members of the House and Senate as well as governors, President Trump emphasized, "We must win." The luncheon was attended by a large number of Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

President Trump pointed out that in previous midterm elections, the party of the sitting president lost 92% of the time, stating, "If you are a great president, you should win the midterm elections, but it doesn't make sense." He continued, "We must win the midterm elections. Otherwise, everything we have achieved-all of it-will be taken away by the radical left lunatics."

Currently, the ruling Republican Party holds the majority in both the federal House and Senate. Whether this situation will be maintained in the November 2026 midterm elections is expected to have a significant impact on the latter half of President Trump's second term.