President Donald Trump has indicated that his highly anticipated summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping may be postponed as he prioritizes the coordination of the escalating war in the Middle East.
In an interview with the Financial Times published Sunday, Trump noted that "we may delay" the meeting, which was originally scheduled for later this month. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed on Monday that while the leader-to-leader dialogue remains a priority, the timeline is shifting.
"As Commander in Chief, his number one priority right now is ensuring the continued success of 'Operation Epic Fury,'" Leavitt told reporters, referring to the ongoing military campaign. "We will keep you updated on the dates soon."
The potential delay comes at a critical juncture for both global diplomacy and energy markets. Trump was expected to be the first American president to visit China since his own first-term trip, with the goal of advancing complex trade and economic negotiations.
However, the administration’s focus has shifted to the Strait of Hormuz, where an Iranian blockade—triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran—has sent oil prices soaring. On Saturday, Trump called on a coalition of nations, including China, Japan, and the U.K., to help reopen the vital waterway.
"China should help too because China gets 90 percent of its oil from the straits," Trump told the Financial Times, arguing that the beneficiaries of the strait must share the burden of its security.
Despite the President's public pressure on Beijing to "police" the strait, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the idea that the summit delay was a diplomatic tactic. Speaking from Paris, where he is meeting with a Chinese delegation, Bessent attributed the rescheduling to the "optimal" need for the president to remain in Washington to coordinate war efforts.
According to Secretary Bessent, the President is prioritizing his role as Commander in Chief in D.C. over foreign travel, as the current Middle East crisis makes a trip to China less than ideal.
While crude oil hit $100 per barrel on Sunday, Bessent offered a surprisingly optimistic forecast for the coming months. Despite ongoing attacks on fuel ships attempting to navigate the strait, he predicted that prices would drop significantly.
"This will end," Bessent stated, forecasting a dip in oil prices to under $80 in a few months. He believes the resolution of the conflict will lead to a more secure and resource-rich global landscape.
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