All posts tagged "xi jinping"

'Oh my God': White House insiders reveal Trump's dangerous high-stakes habit

President Donald Trump heads into high-stakes meetings with world leaders carrying a risky habit, White House insiders told his biographer.

In a Saturday episode of "Inside Trump's Head," Michael Wolff said that Trump refuses to read his briefing books before summits and told co-host Joanna Coles about the pattern while breaking down Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit.

"I've had this described to me by White House people of what happens when he goes into these meetings," Wolff said. Summits normally demand "really hard work," with briefing books and input from every corner of government that has "issues that they want on the table," Wolff explained.

"It's a difficult moment for any president because, I mean, you're the guy and you got to know what you're talking about," Wolff said. "If you don't know what you're talking about, you're giving away the store."

The stakes, he stressed, go well beyond pageantry.

"It's a matter of security," Wolff said. "The world turns on these kinds of meetings. Not with Trump."

Trump "refuses to look at the briefing books" and "refuses to have extensive conversations about the issues at hand," according to Wolff.

"Doesn't care, I suppose. Doesn't know what he's talking about," Wolff said. "He is always saying, 'I'm really good with this.' And then he goes into these meetings, and all it is is flattery."

That flattery flows in both directions, with foreign counterparts "very clearly" understanding "what they can get by this," Wolff said.

"I'm trying to circumvent using the word buffoon," he added, "but I think that's what they see him as. They're like, 'Oh my God.'"

Coles asked who would traditionally prepare the president, suggesting Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Wolff said the job requires "weeks of preparation," so aides boil it down instead.

"They give him two points. You got to do this and this," Wolff said. "And even that usually doesn't register with him."

Wolff said the reality is difficult to convey to voters, and even to White House staff, who fall back on the idea that "he's been elected twice" and "must know what he's doing."

"The president of the United States does not know what he's talking about in these situations," Wolff said.

He warned that the consequences will soon come into view.

"Years from now, or not even years from now, I think we will start to see the effects of this," Wolff said.

Ex-Fox News host rails Trump's move at Xi summit 'backfired' into 'his greatest nightmare'

Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson said President Donald Trump's effort to control press access during Chinese leader Xi Jinping's state visit backfired on him in the most personal way possible.

Speaking on a CNN panel Friday, Carlson dismissed the visit as a publicity exercise that left Trump without the cameras he craves.

"Look, this was a vanity project for Trump. And so the whole media ban did backfire because we saw his lips moving and no sound coming out, which must be his greatest nightmare that he thinks about going to bed at night," Carlson said.

The White House kept CNN, MS NOW and Politico off the grounds Thursday morning despite a judge's order restoring their access. The rest of the TV press pool responded by refusing to broadcast Trump live, The New Republic reported, which left Chinese state media among the few outlets with video of Xi's arrival.

Senate Republicans dodged questions about whether the president must obey the court's order, and MS NOW's Jen Psaki pointed out the irony of shutting out American reporters while honoring the leader of a country with a dismal press freedom record.

Carlson argued that state dinners are supposed to serve a purpose, especially weeks before the midterms. She said Americans got nothing on the economy, inflation, tariffs or the Iran war, and were left wondering what the visit was for.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House communications director, agreed that the ban had backfired, noting that Trump cares deeply about press coverage. She said many Republicans disliked the pageantry of the visit and noted that China is likely aiding Iran against the United States. Recent U.S. intelligence assessments described to CNN echoed that fear.

Farah Griffin also said the summit appeared to produce no deliverables. The U.S. released a one-sentence readout, she said, and it came hours after China's.

U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said Beijing assured Washington it was not helping Iran. Xi, meanwhile, used the visit to deliver a pointed warning about the U.S.-China rivalry.

Trump, speaking Friday, insisted the meeting had been great for everyone, including farmers.

Seething Kristen Holmes fact-checks Trump in real time: 'Fundamentally not true'

A Truth Social post by President Donald Trump taking aim at the media was quickly and angrily fact-checked by CNN White House correspondent Kristen Holmes.

On Thursday, Trump shot off an irate post about how CNN and MS NOW didn't cover his White House welcome ceremony for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

"CNN and MSDNC's Ratings have dropped considerably," Trump wrote, using his name for MS NOW, a jab at the network's progressive lean. "The primary reason is NO CREDIBILITY! They only write badly about a man who won the Election IN A GIANT LANDSLIDE."

He continued, "CNN and MSDNC, to show you how fake they are, today refused to cover one of the Biggest and Most Beautiful Events to take place in many years, the arrival at the White House of the Highly Respected President of China, Xi Jinping...the event was magnificent — Actually made for Television."

Holmes reacted to the post minutes after it came out.

"He is clearly very angry that there has been no coverage of his meeting," Holmes said, but she noted that claims in the post are "fundamentally not true." CNN would have covered the event, Holmes stressed, but its reporters were still not allowed into the White House when it took place.

A judge temporarily blocked Trump's media ban earlier in the day and ordered the White House to restore access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico. However, the Trump administration initially tried to continue restricting their access, and the event with Xi took place before the White House finally relented. It seemed like no one told Trump about the series of events, Holmes said.

"Either somebody in President Trump's administration or the press office is lying to President Trump, or he does not have a fundamental understanding of what is happening today, or he himself is not telling the truth in this post," Holmes said, nearly yelling out of frustration. "And I do want to be very clear to the president of the United States that we would have covered this event had you not banned CNN and MS NOW and Politico."

Outrage as Trump flaunts 'autopen' portrait in front of world leader: 'Appalling'

President Donald Trump sparked outrage by joking about the "autopen" on a portrait to get a laugh out of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

On Thursday, the White House X account posted a video of Trump giving Xi a tour of the Presidential Walk of Fame, a West Colonnade display of gold-framed portraits of past presidents that Trump installed last September. Former President Joe Biden's portrait is notably swapped out with an autopen, reflecting Trump and his allies' claim that Biden's aides used the signature device on pardons and orders because he was mentally unfit. Biden denies the claim.

"Trump, Trump," the president said, pointing at the portraits on both sides of the autopen. "This is the autopen...It's Biden," Trump then explained to Xi with a pat on the arm.

While people following Trump and Xi on the tour laughed at the joke, online reactions were harsher. Many were outraged that Trump would take a dig at a previous president for the sake of getting a laugh out of a foreign leader.

"As an American, I find this so embarrassing," former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul reacted. "He calls it the people's house, but he does not treat it as the people's house. Whatever your policy disagreements were with President Biden, 81 million Americans voted for him. To treat him with such disrespect is appalling. To force a foreign guest to participate in your ridicule of Biden is even worse."

"I hate this," lamented Philip Klein, the editor of National Review Online, a conservative opinion outlet. "Xi is a commie b— who runs a key US adversary. Biden, warts and all, was a U.S. president."

"He's a grotesque human being," blasted former GOP congressman Joe Walsh. "Taking a despicable cheap shot at an American president to make a communist dictator laugh."

"How embarrassing for us," bemoaned Gregg Nunziata, a former GOP Senate Judiciary Committee counsel.

As an American, I find this so embarrassing.

He calls it the people's house, but he does not treat it as the people's house.

Whatever your policy disagreements were with President Biden, 81 million Americans voted for him.

To treat him with such disrespect is appalling. To… https://t.co/PTwtEpYn6M
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) September 24, 2026

Alarm as Trump 'winces in pain' during military flyover: 'Global embarrassment'

President Donald Trump made an odd facial expression during a military flyover that took place while he welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

On Wednesday, Trump met Xi at Joint Base Andrews, where members of the U.S. military cleaned a red carpet that had been laid out for Xi. The White House had announced in the days leading up to the visit that Trump would greet Xi with pageantry. The ceremony included two B-1 bombers soaring overhead.

However, online commentators noticed videos and photos that showed Trump clenching his teeth and scrunching his face during the military flyover, as though the sound seemed to hurt him. His expression stood in stark contrast to Xi's composure.

The political news network MeidasTouch posted a video of the moment and described it as, "Trump winces in pain during the loud military flyover as Xi shows no reaction."

The response to the video mostly expressed mockery and embarrassment, but others analyzed what it meant about Trump's health. Journalist and political commentator Barry Malone reacted by writing in a post on X, "Wow. A truly god-tier meme has just dropped."

"Watch Xi in comparison," pointed out disinformation expert and Kash Patel foe Jim Stewartson. "It's not that loud, but Trump's brain does not filter input correctly anymore due to his worsening frontotemporal dementia. The sound made his nervous system go into full overload—which registers as pain."

Trump has no publicly disclosed dementia diagnosis. Stewartson added, "Note the glove," referring to the black glove that Trump wore and was holding to his forehead at the moment. "It is not cold. Sad."

"Now you see why Trump got 5 deferments from Vietnam," joked author Don Winslow. "Even just the SOUND of a plane flyover is too much for the fat baby in makeup and a diaper. Look at the President of China. No reaction."

"0 Days Since Being a Global Embarrassment," lamented Democratic political strategist and healthcare advocate Melanie D'Arrigo, reacting to a picture of the moment.

'That's incredible': Ex-official floors Erin Burnett with 'sobering' memory of Trump

A former White House official's description of how President Donald Trump feels about the press floored CNN anchor Erin Burnett.

On Wednesday, former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham gave an anecdote about press access in dictatorships. She illustrated Trump's feelings about the press by revealing what he said while meeting with leaders of those countries.

"Speaking of Russia and North Korea and China, I heard him on two different occasions, in a [bilateral discussion] with China and in a [bilateral meeting] with North Korea ... he told them on both occasions, the dictators, 'That is the press. Aren't they animals?'" Grisham said.

When Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Grisham said she "actually physically fought those guards to get the press into that room."

Trump told leaders of China and North Korea that the press are "animals" and "they're crazy," Grisham continued. "You have the right idea," Trump told leaders of those countries, Grisham said.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is visiting Trump in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, and Trump personally greeted him at Joint Base Andrews, had the military literally roll out a red carpet, and gave him a bouquet of flowers.

The visit has drawn criticism about Trump's special welcome for a leader with Xi's record, which includes silencing critics and members of the press. However, it's also drawn comparisons to China's restrictions on the press, as major TV networks were absent from the event. Major networks withdrew from covering it in solidarity with CNN, MS NOW and Politico, which were affected by Trump's media ban.

Grisham stressed that Trump telling leaders of China and North Korea that they "have the right idea" about the press reveals he wants to silence the free press like those countries.

"He absolutely wants to have a presidency more on the side of dictators," Grisham said.

Burnett reacted, saying, "That's incredible, wow," and described Grisham's story as "sobering."

'My goodness': CNN anchor catches 'remarkable' contrast as Trump welcomes global leader

A CNN analyst pointed out a startling contrast ahead of the meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

On Thursday, CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter mentioned that Xi will be arriving in Washington, D.C., amid Trump's media ban. The conversation came up as a panel discussed a hearing that took place on Wednesday to decide on a temporary restraining order to block Trump's media ban.

"In the next couple of hours, the Chinese leader lands in the United States, and there will not be a TV pool camera there," Stelter explained. "Normally, NBC would be the pool crew today. They'd be set up already at [Joint Base] Andrews waiting for the arrival ceremony."

However, "NBC is not there because none of the major TV networks are providing pool coverage in solidarity with CNN," Stelter explained. "So that is going to be remarkable. Well, we're not going to see it, but it's a contrast."

Networks like ABC, CBS and even Fox News joined NBC in withdrawing pool coverage in solidarity with the banned media outlets, CNN, MS NOW and Politico. That means none of them will cover Xi's arrival as Trump is there to greet him.

"You're going to have Chinese state-run media there, but you're not going to have the free democratic media because we are trying to send a message, trying to make a statement about making sure that our rights are protected," Stelter explained. "And my goodness, the contrast could not be more stark."

CNN White House correspondent Kristen Holmes said the contrast will create a "fascinating moment" because Trump has been planning his meeting with Xi for months and has a special welcome in mind.

"He is going to Joint Base Andrews; this is not done. He has not done this with any other leader," Holmes explained. "He wants the pictures of this out there. He wants the photos. He wants the video of this elaborate welcome of President Xi that they have been planning now for months, and instead, he is not going to get that."

'He needs good news': Biographer issues startling warning about Trump's meeting with Xi

President Donald Trump will hand China a victory when he hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington this week, a Trump biographer predicted.

In a Tuesday episode of "Inside Trump's Head," Michael Wolff said Trump needs a win so badly that he will try to flatter his way to one. The strategy will leave Xi with the upper hand because Trump "doesn't listen to anyone," Wolff warned.

"He needs good news," Wolff said. "And his way of getting good news is not to negotiate a good deal. His way of getting good news is to agree. I mean, so he goes into flattery mode."

He added, "I'm sure Xi will flatter Donald Trump, and in return, Donald Trump will flatter him. And that will result in the Chinese getting what the Chinese want."

Trump is set to greet Xi and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan in person at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday before hosting Xi for only the second state dinner of his second term on Thursday, according to The Daily Beast.

Co-host Joanna Coles asked Wolff what would come of the visit, and Wolff answered, "I think nothing good for the United States of America."

He said tariffs were "an important thing" for Beijing, but that the bigger prize would be the Chinese "coming away with expressions of Trump's goodwill," which they would take as an acknowledgement "that they have triumphed in this."

Wolff singled out Taiwan as the issue to watch.

"No mention of Taiwan, or a mention in which Taiwan becomes even more equivocal," Wolff said. "That would be the ultimate victory for Xi coming out of this meeting."

Wolff warned that in a "precarious" world, "any one piece can lead to a miscalculation which can lead to grievous results."

"Everybody is dependent on Donald Trump here, on Donald Trump understanding the stakes, the nuances, the subtleties, the risks," he said. "This is where the rubber hits the road. It's Donald Trump. And we have to depend upon him understanding what can go wrong."

Allies rattled as Trump signals he's wobbling on critical deal: report

U.S. allies are rattled by seeing Trump going wobbly on his position on a critical defense deal for a tense region.

Axios reported on Friday that Trump told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that "he's unsure whether he would greenlight a planned $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan."

Axios noted that Trump's cold feet have "alarmed" one of the key U.S. allies in the region, Japan. Trump talked to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aboard Air Force One after the summit.

Takaichi told reporters after the call that, "We exchanged views ⁠on issues surrounding China, including the economy and security...and reaffirmed close communication on Indo-Pacific issues," according to reports.

However, she avoided a question about whether she and Trump spoke about Taiwan, saying only that he "briefed me in detail on the condition that our conversation remain confidential."

According to Axios, Takaichi has "found her hawkish line on Taiwan increasingly out of step with the U.S. posture," adding that South Korea and the government in Taipei have also been worried about Trump's wavering posture on defending the island.

Trump's uncertainty came despite telling reporters he and Xi discussed Taiwan in "great detail." Axios noted that the trip to China started with "a warning from Xi" about potential "conflicts" over Taiwan.

'Tale of two readouts': White House statement curiously breaks from China's in taut summit

A White House statement about Trump's discussion with Chinese leader Xi Jinping curiously took on a different tone from what counterparts put out, reporters noticed.

Politico correspondent Phelim Kine posted on X that the White House statement touted discussions of Chinese investment in the United States, fentanyl, the Strait of Hormuz, purchasing oil from the United States, and an agreement that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon.

"A Tale of Two Readouts: Here's what's in the WH readout of the Trump-Xi meeting but conspicuously absent in the Chinese readout: 1. Chinese investment into the U.S. 2. fentanyl 3. Hormuz 4. Chinese purchases of U.S. oil. 5. Agreement that Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon," Kine said.

However, Kine found that any mention of these discussions was "conspicuously absent in the Chinese readout."

Semafor journalist J.D. Capelouto wrote that it "exposed the sharp divides in their foreign policy postures," adding that "experts also noted that Beijing's briefing included a stark warning over Taiwan, which Washington's didn't mention."

Michael Froman, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, also noticed the diverging readouts in a Thursday piece, and wrote that it showed how the summit is "unlikely to alter the character and course of the US-China relationship long-term."