Trump Heads Into Xi Meeting Confident, Pushing Fentanyl and Border Security
- Trump is upbeat about face-to-face talks with Xi and expects concrete results.
- Fentanyl and border security are being pushed front and center in those talks.
- He credits tougher enforcement for sharp drops in maritime drug trafficking.
- Trump ties international cooperation to protecting American lives and farmers.
During the final leg of his Asia trip en route to South Korea, President Donald Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One, expressing confidence in his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of their meeting at an economic summit. He framed the visit as a chance to solve hard problems and secure wins for the country. The tone was direct and results-focused.
When asked about U.S. efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking, Trump said the issue would be central to his discussions with Xi. He made clear that this is not a side note but a priority tied to national security. Republicans will point to the need for cooperation and enforcement to stop the deadly flow.
Ahead of his meeting with the Chinese leader, Trump said he hoped for progress on “a lot of problems,” including fentanyl trafficking, trade and tariffs. The message was simple: bring practical solutions, not platitudes. America needs tangible results on trade and drugs.
“China is going to be working with me, okay,” Trump told reporters. “They’re going to be working with me, and we’re going to do something, I believe.”
Trump said the issue would be a major topic of discussion in his upcoming meeting. “We have to have the meeting — a meeting tomorrow. That’s a big meeting,” he said. “And fentanyl will be one of the things that we’re discussing. The farmers will be discussing a lot of things, but fentanyl will be one of the things we discuss.”
Trump stated that the fentanyl crisis and drug trafficking across the southern border are directly related, calling them “tremendous amounts of death.” He painted a stark picture of the human cost to make the case for tougher action. That argument ties foreign diplomacy directly to domestic safety.
“We took in tremendous amounts of death. I call them the boats of death,” he said. “Under Biden and open borders, stuff was flowing. I think they killed 300,000 people last year — fentanyl drugs coming through the southern border. And now nobody gets through this. We’re very tough on the border.”
Trump credited his policies with a sharp reduction in illegal drug trafficking by sea, saying it was “down about 80% by water.” He used that stat to argue that strong enforcement works and should be expanded. The administration’s approach, he said, combines diplomacy with action.
He also praised U.S. law enforcement and border officials for their efforts, saying, “Our border agents, our Border Patrol agents, they’ve been amazing. ICE — these people do such a great job with what they’re doing.” That praise reinforces the Republican line that officers are delivering results under tough policies. Supporters see this as proof positive that leadership and enforcement save lives.
During his visit, Trump also commented on international security issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict and North Korea’s recent missile launches. He said he expects his meeting with Xi to be productive, adding, “I think we’ll get a great meeting with President Xi of China. And a lot of problems are going to be solved.” The focus was firmly on concrete outcomes for American interests.
Trump’s comments underscored his push to link border security and international cooperation as key priorities ahead of his meeting with Xi. Republicans will highlight this as the right mix of diplomacy and enforcement. The pitch is simple: stop the drugs, protect Americans, and make deals that work.
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