Donald Trump reveals he called Xi Jinping ‘king’ – and says Xi liked it
- US president recalls remark on eve of resumption of talks seeking a deal to end the US-China trade war
- China is unlikely to take Trump’s rhetoric ‘too seriously’ expert says
US President Donald Trump has said he called Chinese President Xi Jinping a “king” during a visit to China 18 months ago, and said his Chinese host “liked it”.
Speaking at a Republican fundraising dinner in Washington on Tuesday, Trump shared the episode with guests, apparently to underline his friendly relationship with the Chinese leader.
The revelation came a day before negotiators from the United States and China began another round of highly anticipated talks in Washington to try to end their months-long trade war.
“President Xi, who is a strong man, I call him ‘king’,” Trump said in a wide-ranging speech at Tuesday’s dinner. “He said, ‘But I am not king, I am president.’ I said, ‘No, you are president for life, and therefore you are king.’ He said, ‘Huh … huh.’ He liked that. I call him ‘king’. I get along with him great.”