Trump Criticizes Xi as 'Extremely Hard' to Make Deal With Amid Tariff Tensions

President Donald Trump expressed both personal admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping and frustration over the difficulty in striking a deal, describing Xi as "VERY TOUGH" and "EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH." This comes amid ongoing trade tensions and stalled negotiations, particularly over China's delayed approval of export licenses for rare earth elements critical to U.S. industries. Former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney highlighted a fundamental disconnect in negotiation styles, noting Trump's preference for direct, high-level communication contrasts with China's typical approach of resolving issues through advisors before leader engagement. Mulvaney suggested this man-to-man diplomacy may hinder reaching a deal, even as a potential call between Trump and Xi is anticipated to ease tensions. He also criticized China for practices like intellectual property theft and forced business deals, urging China to step up as a first-tier global nation. The fragile trade relations follow a recent tariff reduction agreement designed to pause the tariff war, but with unresolved issues still threatening progress.