US President Donald Trump has claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tour of Southeast Asia this week is likely aimed at efforts to “screw” the United States.
Trump made the remark in response to Xi’s five-day trip across countries that have been significantly affected by U.S. tariffs imposed under his administration.
On Monday, the Chinese president arrived in Hanoi, where he met with Vietnam’s top official, To Lam, and called for deeper economic cooperation between the two countries.
During his visit, Xi signed several agreements focused on enhancing trade relations and improving supply chain operations.
Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump showed a keen interest in the developments, alleging that the meetings in Vietnam were centered around undermining the U.S.
“I don’t blame China; I don’t blame Vietnam,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“That’s a lovely meeting. Meeting like, trying to figure out, ‘how do we screw the United States of America?’”
Vietnam, which is a major hub for industrial manufacturing and assembly, was hit with 46% tariffs as part of Trump’s Liberation Day tariff policy.
The U.S. remains Vietnam’s top export destination, with American consumers heavily reliant on Vietnamese products like electronics, clothing, and footwear.
Xi’s tour of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia takes place as China continues to face steep U.S. tariffs—currently as high as 145% on some goods.