President Donald Trump declared Thursday that China plans to pour “hundreds of billions of dollars” into American companies through executives who joined him during high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Trump stated that the business leaders accompanying him were there to secure economic opportunities that would ultimately bring jobs back to the United States.
“Those business people are here to make deals and to bring back jobs,” Trump said. “China’s going to invest hundreds of billions of dollars with those people that were in that room today.”
Trump revealed that several prominent technology executives, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, were not originally scheduled for the formal meeting with Xi at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. According to Trump, he personally decided to introduce them before the talks began, which surprised Chinese officials.
“I suggested that before we start the meeting, ‘I’d like to introduce them to you,’” Trump said, adding that Chinese officials were initially caught off guard because the appearance was not on the official schedule.
The president noted that the Chinese delegation eventually embraced the move and described the atmosphere as positive. “Xi actually said that was very good. That was a good idea,” Trump stated.
Trump also reported that discussions between the two leaders extended beyond business and trade. Xi expressed support for maintaining stability in the Middle East and indicated opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
According to Trump, Xi pledged that China would not provide military equipment to Iran. “He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump told Hannity.
A White House summary of the summit stated that both countries agreed Iran should never possess a nuclear weapon.
Xi also reportedly voiced support for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, citing China’s continued reliance on oil shipments moving through the region. Trump said the Chinese leader even offered assistance in pursuing a broader agreement involving Iran.
At a state banquet honoring Trump, Xi emphasized the importance of maintaining stable relations between Washington and Beijing. “We must make it work, and never mess it up,” Xi said.
