While relaxing at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, President Donald Trump confirmed what many had been speculating — Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants a meeting. But Trump’s message was sharp: this isn’t about appeasement or photo-ops. He says the Chinese are feeling the squeeze from his aggressive tariff strategy, and they are the ones now seeking an audience.

“[Xi] wants me to go there and he’s going to come [to the United States],” Trump told Breitbart News in an exclusive sit-down. “We’re just going to work out dates.” According to Trump, a possible visit to China could happen before the year is out, with a reciprocal trip by Xi to the U.S.

The conversation wasn’t just about diplomatic niceties — it was an assertion of dominance. Trump made clear that his bold economic policies, particularly the unprecedented tariffs that fueled a surprise $26 billion budget surplus last month, have flipped the global power dynamic. “I’m not seeking anything,” Trump emphasized later in a Truth Social post. “I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended.”

Trade Talks with Teeth

While the former status quo had Washington begging for market access, Trump says his administration has reversed that. With Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leading face-to-face trade talks in Sweden, Trump says the U.S. is playing hardball—and winning. “We want them to open up,” Trump said of China’s trade barriers, but noted the days of endless concessions are over. “They were losing factories, closing factories… I don’t want that to happen.”

Still, he reiterated that the leverage is now in America’s hands. Thanks to the newly inked trade deals with the EU, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and others, the U.S. has effectively built a new global trade alliance representing nearly 60% of global GDP. China, meanwhile, is feeling the economic isolation.

A Global Realignment

The Trump-Xi dynamic is a pivotal one, but this latest development signals something larger: the White House is now driving the international agenda. Even longtime allies and rivals alike are realigning under the economic weight of American tariffs. Trump noted that leaders from NATO and the Gulf states have marveled at America’s turnaround. “They said ‘one year ago, your country was dead.’ Now you have the hottest country in the world.”

That turnaround, he argues, is due to ditching old dogma. “Tariffs built this country,” Trump said. “Even economists didn’t understand them.” He cited how U.S. government revenue once flowed from tariffs before the creation of the income tax system in 1913 — a system he blames for today’s $36 trillion national debt.

Now, with hundreds of billions pouring into federal coffers from foreign tariffs, Trump says it’s time to finish what he started. The ultimate goal? Pay off the debt, rebuild industry, and bring back American economic supremacy.

A Golden Age Ahead?

Throughout the interview, Trump referred repeatedly to what he calls the “Golden Age of America.” From surging revenue to revitalized diplomacy through strength, the president believes this moment marks a permanent shift in global order.

Whether or not a Trump-Xi summit happens this year, the message has been sent: America is back at the helm — and it’s not asking for permission.