President Donald Trump revealed new details about his upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, telling officials at a diplomatic dinner in Seoul that their meeting is expected to last “three to four hours.” The remarks came on a hot mic as Trump sat down for the meal hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Trump said he expects the talks to produce a “very, very satisfactory” outcome for both countries, adding, “I think it’s going to be a very good meeting. I look forward to it tomorrow morning when we meet.”
During his formal toast, Trump also signaled optimism about tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He noted that South Korea’s “neighbor hasn’t been as nice as they could be,” but expressed confidence that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would come around. “I know Kim Jong Un very well, and I think things will work out very well,” he said.
Trump has not ruled out meeting Kim during his visit. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One earlier in the week, he said he would “love to meet with him if he’d like to meet,” recalling that the two developed a strong rapport during his first term. Trump became the first U.S. president to enter North Korea when he met Kim at the Demilitarized Zone in 2019.
This meeting with Xi comes during the final leg of Trump’s five-day trip through Asia, which included stops in Japan and South Korea. The primary focus of his talks with President Lee will be trade and security.
Henry Haggard, former minister counselor for political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, said Trump’s priority is securing a major trade agreement along with $350 billion in investments into the United States. He added that Trump is also expected to urge Lee to take a stronger stance against China and boost South Korea’s defense spending.
Lee, who leads a left-leaning government, has been cautious about deepening security ties with Washington for fear of retaliation from Beijing. Observers say the success of the meeting will depend largely on how effectively Lee can build a personal rapport with Trump.