President Donald Trump will hold the first-ever trilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, on Thursday.
The White House confirmed the meeting will take place during Trump’s upcoming trip to the Philippines and China, with a senior U.S. official stating the president plans to discuss nuclear arms reduction as a primary focus. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also indicated Trump intends to raise concerns about Iran during the talks, though the Ukraine conflict will not be addressed in this setting.
Trump to bring Elon Musk on Asia trip
In a separate development, Trump will be accompanied by billionaire Elon Musk on his Asia trip, according to administration officials who described Musk as a valuable adviser due to his economic and national security interests. The officials did not specify Musk’s role in the trilateral meeting but noted his presence underscores the administration’s focus on technology and economic ties with China.
Nuclear proliferation and Iran dominate agenda
The White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales emphasized Trump’s priority on reducing global nuclear arsenals, calling the issue “very dangerous.” A senior U.S. official confirmed the president’s intention to raise Iran during the trilateral talks, though the official added that Washington maintains separate negotiations with Kyiv and Moscow to address the war in Ukraine. “China is not really a part of that track, so it doesn’t seem appropriate to have the Ukraine discussion there,” the official stated.
Bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping planned
Trump is also scheduled to hold a bilateral working lunch and meeting with Xi Jinping on Thursday, marking their fourth interaction since Trump’s return to office. The White House did not disclose additional details about the bilateral agenda beyond the planned discussions on nuclear arms and Iran.
Context: Trump’s post-midterm foreign trip
Foreign policy analysts suggest Trump’s participation in the APEC summit, following significant midterm losses for his party, is an effort to demonstrate continued global influence. Jacob Stokes, deputy director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, noted Trump’s attraction to high-profile meetings with world leaders, stating, “He looks at the traditional format in which consequential meetings of the world’s powerful leaders have taken place, and he’s attracted to that.”
Elon Musk’s role and unrelated controversies
While Musk’s presence on the trip highlights his advisory role, administration officials confirmed Trump does not plan to address the recent Nvidia leadership scandal involving Jensen Huang, which has drawn scrutiny over alleged Chinese espionage ties. The White House has not indicated whether the issue will arise in discussions with Xi Jinping.