USA under Donald Trump Xi receives Putin - a few days after Trump +++ Dispute with Canada: USA puts Defense Council on hold

Donald Trump has been President of the United States again since January 20, 2025. All developments in his second presidency can be found here in the ticker.

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5 o'clock

China receives Putin - a few days after Trump

A few days after US President Donald Trump, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is also paying a two-day visit to China from today. Putin will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers and managers from state and private companies, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The talks at the invitation of China's head of state Xi Jinping will focus on expanding the privileged strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to official information from Moscow, the Russians and Chinese intend to sign around 40 documents in total. Among other things, they will discuss cooperation in the areas of industry, trade, transport and construction. The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the war between Iran on the one hand and the USA and Israel on the other are also likely to be discussed.

Russia is considered a close ally, while China is an important partner of Iran. Ushakov said that Russia continues to be a reliable energy supplier for China against the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. Moscow sees the leadership in Beijing on its side in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. However, China emphasizes its neutral role in the conflict.

The signing of 21 documents is also planned during the official part of the meeting on Wednesday in the presence of Putin and Xi. Ushakov particularly emphasized a declaration on the creation of a multipolar world order and a new type of international relations. This will be followed by statements by both heads of state to media representatives.

Putin will be accompanied by members of the government and the head of the central bank, Elvira Nabiullina, as well as heads of companies. According to Ushakov, Alexei Miller, head of the state-owned gas company Gazprom, and Igor Sechin, head of the oil giant Rosneft, as well as some of the richest Russians, including Gennady Timchenko and Oleg Derispaska, will also be there. Due to Western sanctions in the wake of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, these oligarchs are dependent on China as a trading partner.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 1:34 a.m.

Trump's dispute with Canada: USA puts defense council on hold

As a result of the tensions between the United States and Canada, the US Department of Defense is withdrawing from part of the military cooperation. Because Canada is not sufficiently fulfilling its commitments in defense policy, the US is putting the work of the Permanent Defense Council on hold, as senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby told X. "We can no longer ignore the gap between words and deeds."

A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments. DoW is pausing the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American…

— Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby (@USWPColby) May 18, 2026

The joint body was created in 1940 to coordinate more closely on defense issues. It is made up of leading representatives from the military and the governments of both countries. Colby indicated that Canada needs to put more resources into its own defense. "Only by investing in our own defense capabilities can Americans and Canadians live in security and prosperity."

Below the article, Colby linked to a speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. In the much-noticed speech, the head of government said that the US-led global governance system was currently experiencing a rupture characterized by competition between the major powers and a dwindling rules-based order. US President Donald Trump reacted indignantly to the speech.

Relations between the USA and Canada have been severely strained since Trump took office again. In addition to tariffs, the relationship is also strained by Trump's repeatedly expressed desire to incorporate Canada as the 51st federal state.

4.03 am

Taiwan's president fears for the USA's security promises

Following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Taiwan's state leadership has emphasized how important further US arms deliveries are for the island state and security in the entire region. "This is not only a security pledge by the US to Taiwan, but also a long-standing important deterrent against those who undermine peace and stability in the region," wrote President Lai Ching-te in a Facebook post. Taiwan has strategic importance for security in the Indo-Pacific, while China continues to expand its armed forces and wants to change the balance of power in the region - by force if necessary.

US President Donald Trump recently caused a stir by describing his pending decision on further arms sales to Taiwan as an effective means of exerting pressure on Beijing. He is still leaving it up in the air, "it depends on China", Trump told Fox News. "Frankly, it's a very good bargaining chip for us." There are a lot of weapons at stake, Trump said of the deal with Taiwan. "China is a very, very powerful big country. It's a very small island."

The potential arms sale would be worth 14 billion US dollars. The US Congress had already approved it in advance in January 2025. While the USA has long supported Taiwan's efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its defence capabilities, China views such arms sales as an affront. The People's Republic wants to incorporate Taiwan and is threatening to use the military if this does not work peacefully. The island republic with around 23 million inhabitants has had an independent and democratic government for decades. In fact, Taiwan was never part of the communist People's Republic of China, which was founded in 1949.

During his talks with Trump in Beijing on Thursday, China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping warned of possible conflicts with the USA if the Taiwan issue is handled badly. This could put relations between China and the US in an "extremely dangerous situation", he said.

23:33

Organized by Trump administration: Thousands at prayer event in Washington

Thousands of people took part in a prayer event organized by the US government in Washington. Speakers included Christian preachers and Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, as well as the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio planned to send video messages.

The event, entitled "Rededication 250: A Nationwide Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving", was organized by the White House as part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence on 4 July.

People on the National Mall between the Capitol and the Washington Monument sang Christian songs and listened to speeches by Christian preachers - apart from a rabbi and a Catholic archbishop emeritus, almost all the speakers were evangelicals.

Pastor Gary Hamrick from the state of Virginia said in his speech that the country was in a "spiritual war". "This is a battle in our time between good and evil, between right and wrong, between truth and lies, between light and darkness," Hamrick said. "This is a battle for the very soul of America."

10:12 p.m.

Trump's special envoy arrives in Greenland for a visit

The US special envoy for Greenland, Jeff Landry, has arrived on the Arctic island for a visit lasting several days. Landry landed in the Greenlandic capital Nuuk, as the newspaper "Sermitsiaq" reported. It is the first visit to Greenland by the Republican governor of Louisiana in his role as special envoy.

Since his return to the White House, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed ownership of Greenland, which belongs to Nato and EU member state Denmark, plunging Nato into a deep crisis. He withdrew threats of a violent takeover at the end of January after a meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte. Instead, the USA, Denmark and Greenland set up a joint working group.

Landry wants to take part in an economic forum in Nuuk on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event, organized by an employers' association, aims to promote investment in Greenland. The US ambassador to Denmark, Kenneth Howery, is expected in Greenland on Monday. According to the US embassy in Copenhagen, talks are planned between the two US representatives and numerous Greenlanders. The aim of the meetings is to "expand economic opportunities, build people-to-people relationships and deepen understanding between the United States and Greenland".

According to Greenland's head of government Jens-Frederik Nielsen, no agreement has yet been reached with the USA in talks about the future of Greenland. "We are in negotiations, but there is no agreement yet," Nielsen said on Tuesday at a democracy summit in the Danish capital Copenhagen.

20.05

Cuba claims right to self-defense in case of US attack

In the event of a military attack by the United States, Cuba intends to exercise its "legitimate right to self-defense", according to the government. "The USA is the aggressor. Cuba is the attacked country that invokes the right to self-defense," wrote Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossio on the X platform.

This statement followed a report by the US news portal "Axios" on alleged preparations by the socialist-ruled island state to use drones against US targets in an emergency. Without referring directly to the report, the deputy minister criticized efforts to justify a US attack against the Caribbean state with "increasingly implausible accusations".

The Cuban embassy in Washington and the foreign ministry in Havana also reaffirmed Cuba's right to self-defense on X. Pretexts and lies were used to portray the "logical preparation" for a possible attack as something out of the ordinary, the embassy explained.

"Axios" reports that Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones and recently began discussing plans to use them to attack the US base at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, US military ships and possibly Key West in the US state of Florida, which is only around 170 kilometers from Havana. The US media outlet is basing this on intelligence information it has received.

Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1.40 p.m.

Trump-critical US Senator Cassidy loses in primary election

US Senator Bill Cassidy, who five years ago was one of only a few Republicans to vote for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, has suffered a heavy defeat in a primary election. Cassidy only came third in the Republican primary in the southern state of Louisiana, US media reported. He can therefore no longer hope for a third term as senator.

Republican Julia Letlow, who is supported by Trump, won the most votes by a wide margin. She still has to go into a run-off against Louisiana's finance minister John Fleming, who came second in the primary.

Trump welcomed the outcome of the primary and accused Cassidy of "disloyalty". "It's nice to see his political career is over!"

Cassidy was one of only seven Republican senators to vote for the impeachment of the then president after the Capitol storming by Trump supporters in early 2021. Trump has been cracking down on internal party critics for years and trying to force them out of politics.

1.57 pm

Trump on arms sales to Taiwan: good leverage for the USA

US President Donald Trump sees his pending decision on further arms sales to the island of Taiwan, which is claimed by China, as effective leverage against Beijing. He is still leaving it up in the air, "it depends on China", Trump told Fox News. "Frankly, it's a very good bargaining chip for us." The deal, worth 14 billion US dollars, involves a lot of weapons, Trump said.

Trump had previously said during his flight back to the USA from Beijing that he would make a decision in the near future. However, he would first have to discuss it with Taiwan. The US Congress had already pre-approved the most recent arms deal with Taiwan in January 2025.

China rejects such arms sales because it claims Taiwan for itself, even though the island republic has an independent and democratic government. Taiwan was never part of the communist People's Republic founded in 1949. Nevertheless, China wants to incorporate Taiwan. Beijing has already threatened to deploy the military if this does not work peacefully. The USA has long supported Taiwan's efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its defence capabilities.

During his talks with Trump in Beijing, China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping warned of possible conflicts with the USA if the Taiwan issue is handled poorly. This could put relations between China and the US in an "extremely dangerous situation", he said on Thursday.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 - 3 a.m.

Defeat for Democrats before Supreme Court

In the fight for a better starting position in the US midterm elections, the Democrats in the state of Virginia have suffered a defeat before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal by Democratic politicians from the east coast state, whose aim was to be allowed to use a map with redrawn electoral districts in the so-called midterms in November.

The redrawing of the electoral districts would have given the Democrats the chance to take four seats in the House of Representatives from President Donald Trump's Republicans in the midterm elections. Voters in Virginia had voted in April in favor of such a redistricting in their state. Less than 24 hours later, however, a court there declared the vote invalid.

The judge justified his decision at first instance by stating that the question on the ballot paper was "obviously misleading". In addition, the proposal had been submitted to the voters earlier than required by the Virginia Constitution. All votes cast were therefore inadmissible and a redrawing of Virginia's electoral districts was not permitted. Attempts by the Democrats to have their plan approved by higher courts failed.

Foreign affairs expertPhilipp Dahm explains exactly how gerrymandering workshere.

Gerrymandering explainedHow US politics is cutting itself in half with constituency gerrymandering

16:56

Xi to make a return visit to the USA in the fall

Following US President Donald Trump's trip to China, Chinese head of state Xi Jinping is planning a return visit to Washington in the fall, according to state media. Xi will travel to the USA for a state visit at Trump's invitation, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The US President had concluded his two-day summit with Xi in Beijing a few hours earlier. Both then praised the results of their talks, but without specifying them. Trump said that "some fantastic trade agreements" had been concluded. Xi described Trump's visit as a "milestone".

It was the first visit by a US president to China in almost a decade. Trump had already visited the People's Republic during his first term in 2017.

2.43 pm

Merz on the phone with Trump

Following tensions in German-American relations, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone. Merz spoke on Platform X of a good phone call with Trump on his return trip from China.

"We are in agreement: Iran must now come to the negotiating table." Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran must not possess nuclear weapons. Merz went on to write that he and Trump had also discussed a peaceful solution for Ukraine and coordinated their positions in the run-up to the NATO summit in Ankara.

The summit is in July. "The USA and Germany are strong partners in a strong NATO," wrote Merz. The Iran war had recently put increasing strain on German-American relations. Merz had accused the USA of allowing itself to be humiliated by Iran.

2.22 pm

Trump wants to decide on Taiwan arms deal soon

In the dispute with China over further US arms sales to the island of Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing, US President Donald Trump says he has not yet made a decision. "I will make a decision in the near future," said Trump on board Air Force One on his flight back to the USA.

Reporter: What about the arm sales to Taiwan?

Trump: Uh I'll make a determination over the next fairly short period. pic.twitter.com/osVvpgJaI7

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 15, 2026

However, he would first have to speak to "the person" who is currently "running Taiwan", said Trump, without giving a name. Taiwan's president is currently Lai Ching-te.

China sees the arms sales as a problem because it claims Taiwan for itself, although the island republic has a government that is independent of Beijing. The USA supports Taiwan's efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its defence capabilities.

Reporter: Would the US defend Taiwan if it came to it?

Trump: I don't want to say that. I'm not going to say that.

That question was asked to me today by President Xi. I said, “I don't talk about those.”

Reporter: He asked you if you would send troops?

Trump: He asked me if… pic.twitter.com/xYQND5jqKP

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 15, 2026

The potential arms sale would be worth 14 billion US dollars (around 11 billion Swiss francs). The US Congress had already approved it in advance in January 2025.

However, according to senators a few days ago, parliament has not yet been informed that the sales to the island republic have been approved by the government in Washington.

2 p.m.

Trump launches next national construction project

US President Donald Trump wants a new park with sculptures of American heroes to be built in the US capital.

A plot of land along the Potomac River in Washington is to be developed for this purpose, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The new park, which is to be called the "National Garden of American Heroes", will feature sculptures of American founding fathers, war heroes, athletes and artists, among others.

The National Endowment for Humanities, an institution of the US government, has provided funding of up to 200,000 dollars (around 157,000 francs) per statue.

Trump had already ordered the planning of a public sculpture garden by decree during his first term of office and took up the project again shortly after the start of his second term.

12.26 pm

Truth social post: What Trump is thinking about after his departure

Donald Trump is sitting on Air Force One, which is taking him from Beijing back to his home country. He has the advantage of not having to switch on flight mode - and can share his thoughts with us during the journey.

And what does the 79-year-old think about after his farewell to Xi Jinping? "China has a ballroom, and the USA should have one too! It's under construction, ahead of schedule and will be the best of its kind in the US. Thank you for all the support I have received on this project. Scheduled to open in September 2028."

Accompanying the photo, Trump writes: "The man I am walking with is Chinese President Xi, one of the great leaders of the world!"

11.53 am

Taiwan thanks USA for "continued support"

Taiwan has thanked the USA for its "continued support". Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung addressed his thanks to Washington today after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Taiwan of his country's support.

Lin explained that the USA also appreciates peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Rubio told "NBC News" yesterday that US policy towards Taiwan remains unchanged - see previous day's 5.01pm entry.

He described it as a terrible mistake should China attempt to take Taiwan by force. Nothing had changed in the US government's position following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Rubio: “I think China's preference is probably to have Taiwan willingly voluntarily join them.” This is almost certainly the Trump administration laying the groundwork to abandon Taiwan, just like they did with Ukraine. Authoritarians around the world will celebrate.

[image or embed]

— Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 (@joshuaeakle.com) 15. Mai 2026 um 04:06

Beijing recently expressed its anger at US plans to sell an arms package worth eleven billion dollars (around 8.6 billion Swiss francs) to Taiwan. Trump had announced that he would talk to Xi about the issue. This led to the question of whether he might be prepared to reduce support for Taiwan.

The USA is Taiwan's biggest unofficial supporter and most important arms supplier. "As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities," Lin said.

9.06 a.m.

Summit ends: "New bilateral relationship established"

US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have concluded their talks in Beijing. Xi received Trump at his official residence in Zhongnanhai today for final consultations before the US President returned to Washington.

Trump and Xi took a short walk around the grounds. Over tea and lunch, the two met for almost three hours, accompanied by their closest advisors and interpreters, before the US President ended his three-day visit to China.

"It's been a really great few days," said Trump before the start of the final talks. Xi, for his part, described the visit as a milestone. "We have established a new bilateral relationship - or rather a constructive, strategic and stable relationship," he said.

At the airport, Trump was greeted by schoolchildren waving American and Chinese flags. "Goodbye," they shouted. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi bid farewell to Trump, who turned and waved once more before boarding Air Force One.

US president keeps a conspicuously low profileWhat stands out at the meeting between Trump and Xi in Beijing

8:25 a.m.

Xi wants to send Trump rose seeds

China's state and party leader Xi Jinping wants to send US President Donald Trump rose seeds from the garden of the Chinese seat of government, Zhongnanhai.

On the second day of the visit, both heads of state strolled through the grounds next to the Forbidden City. This is where China's top politicians work and live. According to US journalists present, Trump praised the roses in the garden as particularly beautiful. Xi later said that he would send Trump rose seeds.

The visit to Zhongnanhai is regarded as a highly symbolic part of the two-day summit. The area is rarely accessible to foreign guests.

6.07 a.m.

Musk's son's tiger bag goes viral in China

The six-year-old son of tech billionaire Elon Musk has caused a stir in China. He appeared in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday wearing Chinese clothing and carrying a tiger bag that has since gone viral in China. The bag spread quickly on Chinese social media platforms and was sold out in the company's online stores within a few hours.

The small shoulder bag in the shape of a tiger's head is made by the Yastee brand, which works with embroiderers from southern China to produce handmade products. According to local media, it takes several days to make and decorate such a bag.

Musk's kid showed up in Beijing carrying a handmade tiger head bag — a traditional Chinese folk design, hand-stitched by ethnic minority artisans in Guangxi, US$47. The small company behind it had about 100 in stock. By tonight their sales were up 10x. https://t.co/q7zt7PgmEt pic.twitter.com/Mo5povSelQ

— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) May 14, 2026

5:53 a.m.

Xi receives Trump in closed-off government facility

On the last day of his stay in Beijing, US President Donald Trump was received as a guest in the closed-off facility for members of China's government. As photos showed, Trump and China's head of state Xi Jinping shook hands in the garden of the residential and office complex known as Zhongnanhai in the heart of the city.

The agenda included a conversation between the two, with tea served, followed by a working lunch. Trump plans to leave for the USA again in the afternoon (local time).

Visits by state guests to Zhongnanhai, a former imperial garden next to the famous Forbidden City, are rather rare. In 2014, then US President Barack Obama walked through the Communist Party's center of power with Xi. Guests in more recent history include Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko last year and Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2024.

5.06 am

Media: USA wants to indict Cuba's former head of state Raúl Castro

According to media reports, the USA is taking steps to indict 94-year-old Cuban ex-president Raúl Castro. The possible indictment is to focus on the fatal shooting down of aircraft by an exiled Cuban organization by Cuba in 1996, the broadcaster CBS reported, citing US officials. The newspaper "USA Today" also linked a possible indictment to the 30-year-old case. It relied on two sources familiar with the matter.

Such an indictment would normally require the approval of a grand jury. In the USA, such a group of jurors can decide whether to bring charges in a case after evidence has been presented by the public prosecutor's office.

On 24 February 1996, the Cuban air force shot down two aircraft belonging to the exiled Cuban organization "Hermanos al Rescate" (Brothers to the Rescue), which was based in Miami at the time, during a flight off the Cuban coast. According to Havana, the Cessnas had entered Cuban airspace. However, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) came to the conclusion that they were over international waters. Three of the fatalities were US citizens. The Cuban exile organization ceased its work in 2003. Florida's Republican governor Ron DeSantis suggested on Platform X that he would welcome an indictment against Cuba's former leader Raúl Castro. He commented on the CBS News report with the words: "Step on it, it's been a long time coming!".

Several US media outlets had already reported in recent months on a letter from several members of Congress to the US government in which they are said to have called for Raúl Castro to be impeached. Their accusation: He would have ordered the downing as defense minister at the time.

3 o'clock

Trump invested millions of dollars in Apple before his trip to China

In the months leading up to his trip to China, US President Donald Trump has invested heavily in the tech company Apple, whose CEO Tim Cook is accompanying him in Beijing. Trump invested up to 7.2 million dollars in Apple in the first three months of the year, according to data from the US Office of Government Ethics. The exact amounts of money cannot be read off; as usual, only approximate ranges are given in the mandatory list. However, Trump has significantly increased his investments in Apple, as can be seen from the data. The largest purchase dates back to the beginning of February and was worth between one and five million dollars. It is not clear from the data whether the investments were made in shares or other financial instruments.

The US President will be accompanied on his state visit by a large business delegation, including tech billionaire Elon Musk, Apple CEO Cook, the head of chip manufacturer Nvidia, Jensen Huang, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg. Trump also traded heavily in their companies' securities in the previous months, although there is no clear trend as to whether purchases or sales predominated. Boeing secured an order in China for 300 aircraft worth over 37 billion dollars, which Trump also announced - although he gave a different figure. Meanwhile, an even larger order had been expected on the stock market, which is why the share price fell significantly.

Nvidia is currently trying to get back into the Chinese market. The company, which plays a leading role in chips for artificial intelligence, once did billions in business in China. But then came export restrictions from the US government and instructions from Beijing to buy technology from its own manufacturers such as Huawei. For Nvidia, the relationship with China is a big deal: according to Huang's estimates, the company will lose out on around 50 billion dollars in Chinese revenue this year alone.

What is also remarkable in Trump's list is the number of transactions that the wealthy former real estate entrepreneur is now reporting: In the acquisitions alone, there are over 2300 entries for the three months. However, at least some of the transactions were not controlled by Trump himself, but by managed accounts. The largest transactions were sales of tech stocks. According to the report, Trump sold individual securities worth up to 25 million dollars from Microsoft, Amazon and Meta - all on February 10.

2.55 p.m.

CIA chief meets with Raúl Castro's grandson in Cuba

The director of the US foreign intelligence agency CIA, John Ratcliffe, has met with representatives of the socialist Caribbean state in Cuba. The meeting with high-ranking officials from the Ministry of the Interior took place at the request of the US government, the Cuban government announced. Citing a CIA official, several US media outlets unanimously reported that Ratcliffe had met with Cuba's Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, a grandson of Cuban revolutionary leader Raúl Castro, among others.

The news portal "Axios" and the broadcaster NBC News quoted a CIA official as saying that Ratcliffe had traveled to Cuba to deliver US President Donald Trump's message "that the United States is willing to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes".

The Cuban government said that the visit was aimed at promoting political dialog between the two countries against the backdrop of "complex" bilateral relations. At the meeting with Ratcliffe and the US delegation, Cuba's representatives were able to clearly demonstrate that the island posed "no threat to US national security", explained the government in Havana. There was no reason for the country to remain on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism subject to sanctions. Cuba does not finance or tolerate terrorist organizations and has "never supported hostile activities against the USA".

Relations between the two countries have been tense since the revolution in 1959 and have become even more so with the recent change of government in Washington. As one of his first official acts after returning to the White House, Trump put the Communist Party-ruled island state back on the US terror list in January 2025. He increased the pressure to push for economic and political change in Cuba in the interests of the USA. In recent months, the two governments have reportedly held talks, the content of which is not known.

2.50 a.m.

Government critic goes into exile

The US State Department has announced that 27-year-old Cuban government critic Sissi Abascal Zamora and her family have gone into exile in the USA. Abascal was released from prison on Thursday (local time). She had been sentenced to six years in prison following the major protests against the government on July 11, 2021.

After years of unjust detention by the illegitimate Cuban regime, today we welcome @DamasdBlanco freedom advocate Sissi Abascal and her family after being forced into exile. The Trump Administration remains committed to the release of all political prisoners and a future free of…

— Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (@WHAAsstSecty) May 14, 2026

0.36 am

Supreme Court continues to allow abortion pills to be shipped

The abortion pill Mifepristone can continue to be prescribed online and obtained by post in the USA - without the need to visit a doctor in person. The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday to maintain access to the drug by mail order for the time being - and suspended restrictions on a lower court while the legal proceedings surrounding the drug continue. Manufacturers of the drug had previously appealed to the Supreme Court in summary proceedings and warned of a significant impact on supply.

Earlier this month, a federal appeals court severely restricted access to abortion pills through the mail for the time being. A panel of judges in New Orleans suspended a regulation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that had allowed Mifepristone to be sent by telemedicine prescription. The background to this was a lawsuit filed by the Republican-governed US state of Louisiana, which argued that the regulations undermined its almost complete ban on abortion.

The Court of Appeal's decision would mean that, for the time being, providers would only be allowed to dispense the drug in person at clinics or doctors' surgeries. However, an order from the Supreme Court already temporarily suspended this restriction last week. This Thursday's decision means that it will remain in place for the time being.

The practice, which is thus still permitted, had developed into one of the most important routes for abortions in the USA in recent years. With the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court established a nationwide right to abortion in 1973. However, this was overturned in 2022, allowing states to enact their own, sometimes very strict, bans. As a result, telemedicine prescriptions with subsequent delivery by post became increasingly important. Mifepristone is now used for the majority of abortions in the USA.

Friday, May 15, 2026, 0.10 a.m.

Power grid collapses in eastern Cuba

There has been another serious power outage in Cuba. The state electricity association declared on Thursday (local time) that the collapse of the power grid had cut off power to all eastern provinces from Guantánamo to Ciego de Ávila. Emergency services were working to restore the power supply. It initially remained unclear how long this would take. In Havana, where electricity is being rationed, the outages continued for 24 hours on Thursday.

On Wednesday evening, AP journalists observed residents of numerous neighborhoods making noise with pots and pans and setting fire to garbage cans to protest the power outages. Hours later, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy appeared on Cuban television and described the situation as critical.

Cuba produces barely 40 percent of the fuel it needs to power its economy. Following an initial aid delivery, Russia announced that it would send a second tanker to Cuba at the beginning of April. According to Russian news reports, the oil tanker left Russia in January but has been stuck in the same spot in the Atlantic for weeks.

Power outages are relatively common in Cuba due to the dilapidated infrastructure. However, the government in Havana also attributes the outages to a US energy blockade. In January, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on any country that supplies or sells oil to Cuba.

The shortages have had a significant impact on the population, whose daily lives have been severely affected by reduced working hours, a lack of electricity for cooking and spoiled food in inoperable refrigerators. In some cases, hospitals have had to cancel operations.

7.11 pm

Trump: Xi has offered help in the Iran war

China's head of state Xi Jinping has offered help in the Iran war, according to US President Donald Trump. "He would welcome a deal being reached," Trump said in an interview on Fox News. "And he offered, "If there's anything I can do to help, I'd be happy to do it," the president said. When asked whether Xi had actually said this, Trump explicitly confirmed it.

Trump emphasized that Xi would like to see the Strait of Hormuz opened. The strait, which is important for global trade, has not been freely passable since the start of the Iran war, which has severely hampered oil exports. China is considered the most important importer of Iranian oil and is therefore particularly interested in opening the strait.

In a previously published interview on NBC News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump had not asked Xi for "anything". "We have not asked for China's help, nor do we need their support," he said. Trump had, however, drawn Xi's attention to the issue.

5.01 pm

Rubio warns China against attack on Taiwan

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned China against an attack on Taiwan. Should the People's Republic attempt to annex the island by force, this would be a "terrible mistake", Rubio said in an interview with NBC News in Beijing on Thursday. The position of the US government had not changed following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, which it will annex by force if necessary. Trump had announced that he would talk to Xi about the issue. This led to the question of whether he might be prepared to reduce support for Taiwan.

Rubio assured: "US policy on the Taiwan issue remains unchanged to this day and after the meeting we had here today." The issue had been raised. "They always bring it up from their side," Rubio said. "We always make our position clear and then move on to other issues."

13:27

Xi praises "the most important bilateral relationship in the world"

At the state banquet with US President Donald Trump, China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of the relationship between their two countries.

"We have always believed that this is the most important bilateral relationship in the world," he said at the toast in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two countries should be partners rather than adversaries, Xi urged.

Trump then emphasized the long-standing exchange between China and the USA. The people of both countries have a lot in common and value hard work, courage and success, he said. "We have the opportunity to use these values to create a future of greater prosperity, cooperation, happiness and peace for our children," said Trump.

The banquet marked the end of the first day of Trump's visit to Beijing. He plans to return home to the US tomorrow, Friday, after another meeting with Xi.

1 p.m.

Trump invites Xi for a return visit

US President Donald Trump has invited his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to visit Washington in the fall. He is looking forward to welcoming Xi's wife Peng Liyuan to the White House on September 24, Trump said at a banquet in Beijing.

Trump described his talks with Xi as extremely positive. "It was really a great reception, the likes of which you don't get anywhere else," he said. "And it was a great honor to be with you." Everything they discussed was "good for the United States and China," he said.

10 a.m.

Trump remains silent on the Taiwan issue

Photo opportunity in front of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing - see entry 8.27 a.m.: "How were the talks, sir?" asks a reporter. "Great," replies Donald Trump. "China is beautiful." "Did you talk about Taiwan?" the reporter calls out.

Silence.

The reporter repeats: "Did you talk about Taiwan?"

Silence.

Reporter: How were the talks sir?

Trump: Great. China is beautiful.

Reporter: Did you talk about Taiwan?

Trump:

Reporter: Did you talk about Taiwan?

Trump: pic.twitter.com/1uL6nqwm5Y

— Acyn (@Acyn) May 14, 2026

9.45 a.m.

Venezuela wants debt restructuring - USA advises Caracas

Venezuela has announced a comprehensive process to restructure its foreign debt. The South American country has foreign debts of around 170 billion US dollars, which would currently correspond to almost 133 billion Swiss francs.

The obligations of the state-owned oil company PDVSA are also to be restructured, as announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Venezuela has been insolvent since 2017. According to an estimate by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country's annual economic output is currently only around 110 billion US dollars.

"Our ability and willingness to meet our obligations has been affected by financial sanctions," explained the ministry. These had been imposed by the United States. Since the capture of Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro by the US military in January, Washington has gradually eased its sanctions.

"51st state"Trump once again flirts with annexing a country

Just a few days ago, the US Treasury Department authorized the government in Caracas to hire legal and financial advisors to restructure its debt. Debt restructurings are usually very complex and often involve lengthy and tough negotiations with creditors.

US President Donald Trump's administration wants to use the country's large oil reserves to benefit the US and is now exerting considerable influence on the Venezuelan oil industry and politics.

9.06 am

How Trump praises host Xi

Trump to Xi Jinping in Beijing today: "I have such respect for China and the work you've done. You are a great leader. I tell everybody: you are a great leader. Sometimes people don't like it when I say that. But I say it anyway. Because it's true. I'm just telling the truth."

Trump to Xi:

You are a great leader. I say it to everybody, that you are a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway because it’s true.

I only say the truth. pic.twitter.com/hmAWFbFqNQ

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 14, 2026

The US president continued: "It's an honor to be with you. It is an honor to be your friend. Relations between China and the US will be better than ever before."

Trump to Xi:

It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before. pic.twitter.com/CqXD6DQSlq

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 14, 2026

8.27 am

Xi shows Trump the Temple of Heaven

After the official reception and initial talks, China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping has shown his US state guest Donald Trump the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

The complex south of the Great Hall of the People is a crowd-puller and popular photo opportunity for tourists due to its iconic temple in the middle of the park.

Between the 14th and 20th centuries, the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the heavens and prayed for good harvests in the complex, which is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Trump is not the first US president to be shown the temple by the Chinese leadership. In 1975, then President Gerald Ford visited the complex with his wife. Footage from that time shows the Republican surrounded by a large crowd of delegation members in front of the round temple building.

8.21 a.m.

Surveillance in Beijing: "Cameras literally everywhere"

A Fox News reporter reports on the surveillance measures during the summit in China: "There are literally cameras everywhere in Beijing," Bret Baier explains to his audience. "I can count at least 20 on this corner."

The American knows that 1500 cameras were added in 2026 alone. "Nobody crosses the road on red because they'll be fined immediately." In fact, his driver had been stopped for two minutes in the no-parking zone - and had been informed of his fine of around 40 US dollars by text message.

👁 Big Brother is watching you: Fox News journalists in Beijing got fined by CCP surveillance cameras after illegally parking for just two minutes pic.twitter.com/k0mm36bBet

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 14, 2026

The authorities claimed that the cameras were only intended to improve the feeling of safety, the report ends.

7.16 a.m.

China summit: First meeting ends

US President Donald Trump and China's head of state Xi Jinping have ended their bilateral meeting after around two hours. This was reported today by the White House and Chinese state media. The talks focused on trade, Taiwan and other differences in US-Chinese relations.

7.05 am

Xi warns Trump over Taiwan

China's head of state Xi Jinping has warned of a conflict over Taiwan in talks with US President Donald Trump. If the Taiwan issue is handled badly, it would lead to tensions or even conflict between the two countries, the Chinese leader said in Beijing, according to the state news agency Xinhua.

This could put relations between China and the USA in an "extremely dangerous situation", he warned. Beijing lays claim to the independent and democratically governed Taiwan. The Communist Party is concerned that the island could officially declare itself independent, which the local government has not yet sought to do.

State independence and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible, Xi said, referring to the strait between China and Taiwan, and also emphasized that dealing with Taiwan is the most important issue in US-China relations. If handled well, this issue could also maintain stability between the two countries, he said.

The USA plays an important role in relation to Taiwan - partly because it supplies Taiwan with weapons despite Beijing's strong criticism. Whether and what Trump said in response to Xi's remarks was not initially known.

6.45 a.m.

Xi receives Trump in China with great fanfare

At the start of US President Donald Trump's visit to China, both sides used emphatically friendly words in an attempt to create a more stable relationship between the superpowers.

After a reception with military honors, Trump explicitly praised China's head of state and party leader Xi Jinping. The host in Beijing in turn said that he was convinced that the common interests between the USA and China were greater than their differences. The respective success of both countries was an opportunity for the other, said Xi.

China understands Trump better than Washington does. Give him the red carpet, the fanfare, the strongman treatment, and suddenly “America First” turns into deal-making season. China has several cards to play.

[image or embed]

— Jessica Tarlov (@jessicatarlov.bsky.social) 14. Mai 2026 um 01:42

The world's two largest economies are locked in a bitter trade dispute. Trump, who had threatened China with horrendous tariffs last year, said at the start of his talks with Xi that the USA and China had a "fantastic" future together. The US president praised the host as a "great leader".

"Sometimes people don't like it when I say that, but I say it anyway because it's true," Trump continued. "It's an honor to be your friend." The talks during Trump's state visit to Beijing are likely to be dominated by trade issues.

The US President was accompanied by a large business delegation, including tech billionaire Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook. The head of chip manufacturer Nvidia, Jensen Huang, was also present. The semiconductors produced by the company are considered particularly important for the development of artificial intelligence.

Trump family trip to China

[image or embed]

— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 13. Mai 2026 um 01:06

It is expected that the Iran war will also be a topic of discussion. The USA is hoping for help from China in securing the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for the transportation of oil and liquid gas. China is normally the largest buyer of Iranian oil.

Xi said that stable Sino-American relations were "good for the world". Both sides should be partners and not opponents. He also raised the question of whether China and the USA could create a "new model for relations between great powers". Xi placed the relationship between the two countries in the context of a possible dangerous rivalry.

He addressed the "Thucydides Trap", named after an ancient Greek historian. This refers to the danger of an emerging power and an established leading power coming into a dangerous confrontation.

Trump to Xi: "I was particularly impressed by those children. They were happy, they were beautiful. Those children were amazing."

[image or embed]

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 14. Mai 2026 um 04:31

Xi had previously received Trump with military honors at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of the Chinese capital. The two shook hands for a long time. Trump also applauded children who were jumping and cheering as they held up small US flags and flowers. Trump later said that he thought the children were "great".

21:21

US Senate confirms Trump nominee Warsh as new Fed chief

US President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Federal Reserve (Fed), Kevin Warsh, has been confirmed by the Senate. The majority of senators voted in favor of the former Fed governor. The 56-year-old Warsh replaces Jerome Powell at the head of the Fed. His appointment is controversial.

A Senate Banking Committee had previously given Warsh the green light at the end of April. While all 13 Republicans there voted in favor of Trump's nominee, all 11 Democratic senators voted against him. They warned against political influence on the central bank, while Republicans praised Warsh as an experienced candidate.

18.37 UHr

Venezuela as the "51st state" - Trump provokes with post

US President Donald Trump is once again causing a stir with a provocative post on territorial expansion efforts: This time it's about Venezuela. On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted a map showing the South American country in the design of the US flag. The words "51st state" are written above the map. The White House is sharing the post further.

pic.twitter.com/IBzjpZgXUc

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 12, 2026

On Monday, Trump had already said in a telephone conversation with a journalist from US broadcaster Fox News that he was seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st state of the USA. Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, rejected Trump's insinuations. "That's not on the agenda," she said.

3.12 p.m.

Trump lands in China

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Beijing for his visit to China. As seen on Chinese state television, the Republican arrived at the capital's airport on Air Force One in the evening (local time).

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng welcomed Trump at the airport to chants from flag-waving youths. His son and businessman Eric Trump and his wife Lara disembarked from the government plane with the US President. Trump was also accompanied by high-ranking business representatives. One of them was tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Trump is due to meet state and party leader Xi Jinping on Thursday and fly back to the USA after the talks on Friday.

5.44 a.m.

FBI chief Patel sharply rejects accusations of alcohol consumption

FBI Director Kash Patel has strongly denied allegations of alcohol consumption during working hours. At a heated hearing on budget issues in the US Senate on Tuesday (local time), Patel spoke of "completely baseless" allegations. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen had asked Patel about a report in "The Atlantic" magazine that paints a critical picture of his leadership of the FBI. In the report, Patel is accused of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol at work and being unavailable to staff at times.

Patel reacted angrily and said he would not be defamed by "baseless allegations and fraudulent statements by the media". Patel has filed a lawsuit against the report for 250 million US dollars. "The Atlantic said it stood by its reporting and would defend itself vigorously against the "baseless lawsuit".

During the exchange of blows, Patel attacked the senator personally and accused him of "drinking margaritas at taxpayers' expense" in El Salvador. Patel was alluding to a visit by Van Hollen to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been imprisoned in El Salvador following an erroneous deportation. Van Hollen rejected the account as demonstrably false.

The dispute occurred during a Senate committee hearing with Patel and other leading law enforcement officials. Republican senators praised Patel's work, while Democrats questioned him about controversial trips and the firing of FBI employees who had been involved in investigations into US President Donald Trump.

4:58 p.m.

Circles: Trump seeks nuclear arms agreement with China and Russia

US President Donald Trump apparently wants to push ahead with the idea of a trilateral nuclear weapons agreement between the USA, China and Russia. This was announced to journalists by a high-ranking government representative before Trump's departure for China. The US President will remain in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday, where he intends to meet with head of state Xi Jinping and other Chinese government representatives.

China has so far been reluctant to enter into such an agreement. According to Pentagon estimates, Beijing has more than 600 operational nuclear warheads, putting it well behind the USA and Russia, which are each said to have more than 5,000 nuclear warheads. According to Pentagon estimates, however, China will have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030.

The last nuclear weapons treaty between Russia and the United States, the so-called "New Start" agreement, expired in February. This was the first time in more than half a century that limits on the two largest nuclear arsenals in the world had been lifted. Even before the treaty expired, Trump had rejected an extension for a further year proposed by Russia and instead called for a "new, improved and modernized" agreement that would also include China.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

Court reinstates Trump's global tariffs for the time being

US President Donald Trump has won a stage victory in the legal tug-of-war over his controversial tariff policy. An appeals court has temporarily suspended the decision of a lower court, which last week ruled that Trump's temporary tariffs on imports from around the world were unlawful. Importers must now continue to pay the duties of 10 percent for the time being.

The Court of Appeal's decision is not a final judgment on the matter. Rather, it temporarily suspends the judgment of the lower court - the Court of International Trade in New York - while the appellate judges consider the US government's application. The plaintiffs - including the state of Washington and two companies - now have seven days to respond. If the appeals court also ends up overturning the tariffs, the Trump administration still has the option of appealing to the Supreme Court.

Last week, the Court of International Trade in New York came to the conclusion that Trump had exceeded his authority with the temporary levy of 10 percent. The judges ruled that the US President had misinterpreted the trade law used as a basis. Neither the US government nor the customs authority (CBP) were allowed to demand import duties from the plaintiffs.

Since February 24, 2026, the US has levied a ten percent tariff on most imports from abroad. Trump imposed them immediately after the Supreme Court declared many of his previous tariffs unlawful. The US president then made do with a stopgap solution: for the new tariffs, he relied on a trade law from 1974, which limits the levying of duties to a maximum of 150 days anyway.

11.47 pm

Trump wants the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela

US President Donald Trump has promised the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela. "We will get them all out," the Republican told journalists in Washington before his departure to China. Despite the US military operation in January to arrest authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro, hundreds of government critics are still imprisoned in the South American country, according to human rights activists.

Maduro and his wife were arrested in the capital Caracas at the beginning of the year and flown out to New York. They are to be tried there for drug smuggling. Former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is now in power as caretaker president - and is working with Washington on oil issues, among other things. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world.

"Delcy is doing a great job," said Trump. The people of Venezuela are enthusiastic about the change in the country.

The Venezuelan opposition is actually calling for a real change of power in the country of around 29 million people and the release of all political prisoners. According to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, more than 600 political prisoners have been released since January. However, more than 450 are still in custody. There is as yet no timetable for free elections to democratize the country.

10.52 p.m.

Congress: Trump's "Iron Dome" would cost 1.2 trillion dollars

The "Iron Dome" missile defense system initiated by US President Donald Trump could cost over one trillion dollars, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Over a period of twenty years, the costs would amount to around 1.2 trillion dollars (currently around 940 billion Swiss francs), according to a report by independent auditors. According to the report, one trillion dollars will be required for the procurement alone. The space-based part of the system accounts for over two thirds of the acquisition costs.

Trump launched the project at the beginning of his second term in office: it is modeled on the Israeli "Iron Dome" and is intended to be able to defend against short-range missiles as well as modern hypersonic and long-range missiles - both from the air and from space. It would therefore go well beyond the existing US defense systems.

A year ago, Trump said that 25 billion US dollars had been earmarked as start-up funding for the project. In total, the project is expected to cost around 175 billion dollars.

Congress based its calculations on a decree that Trump signed shortly after taking office. According to this, the system would include regional and nationwide ground-based defense as well as satellite-based defense.

6.05 a.m.

Trump to undergo another medical examination at the end of May

US President Donald Trump is to undergo a medical and dental examination at the end of May. The White House described the appointment on May 26 at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a routine check-up. Trump will be 80 years old in June and was the oldest elected US president when he was elected.

The president's health has long been under particular scrutiny. Trump recently said he regretted last year's heart and abdominal scans because they had triggered public questions about his health.

Trump, who frequently criticized his predecessor Joe Biden for age-related health and fitness problems, has recently emphasized several times how well he feels despite his age. "I don't know why. It's not because I eat the best food," Trump said at an event in the Oval Office on Monday. Last week, Trump also joked that he exercises "about a minute a day at most".

US presidents can largely decide for themselves what health information they publish. Following an examination in April 2025, Trump's doctor declared that the president was "fully fit for duty". Months later, Trump had himself examined again after, according to the White House, a "slight swelling" was found on his legs. Examinations revealed chronic venous insufficiency.

Trump's polarizing statements, such as his verbal attack on the Pope or his extreme remarks against Iran, have reignited the debate about the US president's mental state in recent days and weeks.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 4 a.m.

Former Nato chief promotes the creation of a new alliance of states

Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is campaigning for a new alliance of democratic states that can stand up to the USA if necessary. "Since my childhood, I have admired the USA and regarded the United States as the natural leader of the free world," Rasmussen told the news agency network Democracy News Alliance (DNA), of which Deutsche Presse-Agentur is also a member, at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit this Tuesday. However, it now appears that US President Donald Trump is withdrawing his country from this role. "That's why we need a new leader of the free world," he said.

In addition to the EU, Great Britain, Japan and Canada, Denmark's Rasmussen also sees Australia, New Zealand and South Korea as desired members of the new alliance. It could therefore be called D7 in reference to the existing G7 group of leading Western industrialized nations, with the D standing for democracy.

"If we act together, if we join forces and present a united front, then we are a formidable force," said Rasmussen, who was also Danish Prime Minister for many years (2001-2009) before his time as NATO Secretary General (2009-2014). If we are exposed to economic pressure and respond to it together, this will ensure respect in Beijing or, if the worst comes to the worst, in Washington. To this end, an economic Article 5 could be formulated within the D7 alliance, based on NATO's famous mutual assistance clause, according to which an economic attack on one would be regarded as an attack on all.

In concrete terms, the pro-democracy alliance should, for example, also establish international norms and standards for the use of new technologies and reduce dependencies in the supply of raw materials. It would also be important to invest jointly in the Global South in order to create an alternative to Chinese investments. "And within such an alliance, threats against each other would of course be unacceptable," added Rasmussen, referring to the US action against Denmark in the Greenland conflict. Such behavior harms the democracies of the world and only serves the interests of autocrats such as Russian President Vladimir Putin. "My biggest concern at the moment is the unpredictable behavior of the Trump administration," said the 73-year-old.

4.06 am

Before Trump-Xi meeting: USA negotiates with China in South Korea

Before US President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing, representatives of China and the US want to meet for another round of negotiations to settle their trade dispute. According to the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing, Vice Premier He Lifeng and a delegation are to travel to the South Korean capital Seoul from Tuesday to Wednesday. The topics to be discussed are "economic and trade issues of mutual interest".

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the meeting on the online platform X. According to the statement, he wants to discuss mutual economic relations with Japan's head of government Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he plans to make a stopover in Seoul for the meeting with He and then travel on to the meeting between Trump and head of state and party leader Xi Jinping, he wrote. Trump plans to travel to China from Wednesday to Friday.

In advance of @POTUS' historic summit with President Xi in Beijing, I will depart on Monday for a quick series of meetings in both Japan and South Korea.

On Tuesday, I will meet in Tokyo with Prime Minister @takaichi_sanae, Finance Minister @satsukikatayama, and other government…

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) May 10, 2026

Bessent and He had also represented their countries in previous rounds of negotiations. The trade dispute between the world's two largest economies led to an exchange of blows with tariffs and counter-tariffs last year. China responded with export controls on important raw materials, which affected industry worldwide.

A meeting between Xi and Trump in Busan, South Korea, at the end of October initiated a temporary pause in the tariff dispute, which will remain in place until the fall. However, restrictions such as those on the supply of rare earths remain in place.

Monday, May 11, 2026, 3:40 a.m.

China confirms visit by US President Trump from Wednesday

For the first time since 2017, a US president is visiting China again: the Chinese Foreign Ministry has now officially confirmed Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the People's Republic. The Republican will be visiting from Wednesday to Friday at the invitation of state and party leader Xi Jinping, it added. Trump himself had previously announced the visit.

As is usual on such occasions, China only confirmed the state visit shortly before it began. Trump originally wanted to fly to China at the end of March, but postponed the trip at short notice due to the Iran war. The Republican last met Xi at the end of October on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Korea.

Since Trump took office last year, the world's two largest economies have been locked in a trade conflict, with high tariffs and export controls massively disrupting the movement of goods and dragging down the global economy. In addition to trade policy issues, experts believe that the two heads of state could also discuss the situation in the Middle East. Washington's stance on the island republic of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of China's territory and wants to annex, could also be on the agenda.

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