President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia for an almost weeklong tour of Asia that may embrace conferences with key leaders, with a essential aim of securing a commerce take care of China’s President Xi Jinping — in hopes of ending a monthslong commerce warfare.
Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur shortly after 10 a.m. native time on Sunday. Whereas he was on his method, Trump posted on his social media platform that he would meet with the prime minister of Thailand upon arrival and signal a peace settlement between Thailand and Cambodia, noting the current loss of life of Thailand’s Queen Mom Sirikit.
President Donald Trump walks with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Trump is predicted to sit down down with a number of different Asian leaders on the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has a bilateral assembly with Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar bin Ibrahim, whereas in Kuala Lumpur, throughout the preliminary stage of his journey.
President Donald Trump is greeted by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
U.S. President Donald Trump joins the performers in a dance throughout a welcoming ceremony after arriving at Kuala Lumpur Worldwide Airport, to attend the forty seventh Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 26, 2025.
Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters
Securing commerce take care of China
Trump is predicted to sit down down together with his Chinese language counterpart in South Korea on Thursday, the ultimate day of his abroad journey.
U.S.-China relations skilled some detente this summer season as tariffs have been lowered whereas commerce talks continued, however tensions flared not too long ago when China introduced tightened export controls on uncommon earth minerals weeks earlier than the leaders have been set to fulfill.
President Donald Trump on September 18, 2025 and Chinese language President Xi Jinping September 1, 2025.
AFP/POOL/AFP through Getty Pictures
The Trump administration sees these expanded restrictions, which apply to international locations all over the world, as having a serious influence on world manufacturing. Trump’s high financial advisers have known as the export controls “financial coercion” and “extortion.”
President Donald Trump speaks throughout a roundtable on legal cartels within the State Eating Room of the White Home, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Pictures
He responded by threatening an extra 100% tariff on Chinese language imports, set to take impact Nov. 1, if his talks with Xi fail.
Even so, he has appeared optimistic, saying he expects “to have the ability to make it a superb deal” with Xi when the 2 sit down collectively. He is mentioned they’re additionally anticipated to confer about China’s buy of American soybeans and even nuclear issues.
Different world leaders
Following his cease in Malaysia, Trump will then journey to Japan the place he is anticipated to sit down down with Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. A political conservative, Takaichi is the nation’s first feminine chief. Whereas the U.S. and Japan have already secured a commerce deal, the 2 will spotlight that facet of the U.S.-Japan relationship.
Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks throughout a press convention on the prime minister’s workplace in Tokyo, Oct. 21, 2025.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP, Pool
On Wednesday, Trump can also be anticipated to go to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) Summit. Whereas there, Trump will maintain a bilateral assembly with the president of the Republic of Korea, ship keynote remarks on the APEC CEO luncheon and take part in APEC working dinner.
The go to comes after main tensions between South Korea and the U.S. after greater than 400 South Korean employees have been arrested, detained and deported at a Hyundai plant in Georgia as a part of Trump’s immigration crackdown.
It got here after Hyundai poured billions into the manufacturing unit to align with Trump’s imaginative and prescient of producing in America as a way to keep away from the brunt of Trump’s tariff insurance policies.
The episode induced uncertainty concerning the capacity of firms to get employees into the U.S. to construct and function manufacturing crops with out comparable incidents. Trump’s go to might be an opportunity to assuage unease amongst these firms as he continues to courtroom funding within the U.S.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney additionally is predicted to attend APEC and the opposite Asia conferences, and considered one of Trump’s high financial advisers mentioned Friday Trump and Carney will communicate whereas there about their newest tariff dispute.
Simply earlier than leaving for Asia, Trump abruptly ended commerce talks with Canada, saying he was indignant a few TV advert put out by the province of Ontario that includes Ronald Reagan in 1987 criticizing tariffs. Trump claimed it was an try and “illegally affect” the U.S. Supreme Courtroom, which is about to listen to arguments subsequent month over whether or not he has the facility to unilaterally impose tariffs.
His go to additionally comes simply days after he slapped extra sanctions on Russian oil firms and continues to name on allies to tug again on purchases of Russian crude.
On Thursday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned these sanctions are already having an influence on, with China and India “scaling again” their contracts.
Although Trump is not any stranger to APEC and ASEAN summits, having attended many throughout his first time period, this go to can be his first main with Asian leaders throughout his second keep in workplace — as they attempt to navigate his usually unpredictable adjustments in commerce and overseas coverage.
