Trump Heads to 3-Country Sprint in Asia, Meeting With China’s Xi/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump departed for a high-stakes three-country tour of Asia amid a prolonged U.S. government shutdown. The trip includes meetings with leaders in Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and a pivotal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. As domestic tensions rise, Trump pursues trade deals, investment agreements, and peace efforts abroad.
Trump Begins Asia Tour With Xi Meeting — Quick Looks
- Trump departed Friday for a three-nation Asia trip: Malaysia, Japan, South Korea.
- He’s expected to meet China’s President Xi to ease trade tensions.
- The U.S. government remains partially shut down with no budget resolution.
- Trump faces criticism for leaving during a domestic crisis.
- In Malaysia, Trump will attend a regional summit and meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
- Talks include ceasefire deals between Thailand and Cambodia.
- In Japan, Trump will meet newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
- U.S.-China trade war, rare earth controls, and soybean exports top Xi summit agenda.
- A potential meeting with Brazil’s President Lula is under discussion.
- Speculation continues about a surprise reunion with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Deep Look
Trump Embarks on Asia Trip Focused on Trade, Diplomacy as U.S. Shutdown Continues
President Donald Trump took off Friday night aboard Air Force One, launching his first Asia trip since beginning his current term. The journey will span three countries—Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea—and is centered on trade talks, diplomatic outreach, and a pivotal face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
But back home, the U.S. government remains locked in a bitter stalemate. The ongoing shutdown is now affecting federal worker pay, disrupting flight operations, and threatening essential services like food assistance. Despite mounting pressure in Washington, Trump is pushing forward with his international itinerary.
“America is shut down and the President is skipping town,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, criticizing Trump’s timing as federal workers brace for missed paychecks.
Malaysia: Ceasefire and Regional Diplomacy
Trump’s first stop is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he’ll attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. It’s only his second time participating in the annual gathering, but this year’s event carries added weight. The U.S. has been working with Malaysian officials to stabilize tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.
The president is scheduled to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and participate in a signing ceremony with leaders from Thailand and Cambodia. Trump previously warned that trade relations could suffer if the two nations failed to deescalate their skirmish, and his administration has since helped facilitate a ceasefire framework.
“I told the leader of Malaysia, who is a very good man, I think I owe you a trip,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
There’s also the potential for a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who wants U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports reduced. Lula has also voiced concern over American military activity near South America’s coast and is expected to raise the issue if the meeting occurs.
Japan: A New Prime Minister and $900 Billion in Investments
Following Malaysia, Trump heads to Japan, where he will meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—the country’s first female leader and a protégé of late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a former Trump ally.
Trump described Takaichi’s connection to Abe as “a good sign” and said he looked forward to their discussions. While in Japan, Trump will also meet U.S. troops and be received by Emperor Naruhito, according to U.S. officials.
At the heart of the Japan stop are talks over nearly $900 billion in Japanese investments in American industries. These deals were negotiated as part of an agreement to reduce proposed U.S. tariffs from 25% to 15%.
South Korea: Xi Summit and Trade War Tensions
The final leg of the trip is South Korea, where Trump will join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Most notably, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the port city of Busan. The summit comes amid escalating friction in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, which has impacted global markets.
Earlier this month, China imposed export controls on rare earth minerals critical to tech manufacturing and threatened steep retaliatory tariffs. Trump was angered by the move but remains hopeful that the upcoming talks will result in what he called a “fantastic deal.”
One of Trump’s objectives is to push China to increase purchases of U.S. agricultural products, particularly soybeans.
He also hinted at raising the case of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, currently imprisoned in Hong Kong. “It’ll be on my list,” Trump said when asked by reporters.
Will Kim Jong Un Join?
While not on the official schedule, speculation is swirling about a possible impromptu meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. South Korea’s Unification Minister recently suggested such a meeting could happen in the demilitarized zone, as it did in 2019. However, U.S. officials say no such reunion is planned.
Trump downplayed the likelihood, quipping, “They have a lot of nuclear weapons, but not a lot of telephone service.”
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