Trump Aims to Put America First in High-Stakes China Talks
In a move that puts America first on the world stage, President Donald Trump is poised to take bold action on two of the most pressing issues facing the United States: the fentanyl crisis and America’s global technology leadership. During the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, Trump will meet China’s President Xi Jinping (CCP) to directly tackle China’s role in fueling America’s deadly opioid epidemic and consider rebalancing trade tariffs as part of a hard-fought negotiation. This critical encounter underscores Trump’s tireless efforts to secure not only national security and economic advantage for Americans, but also a real crackdown on Chinese fentanyl precursors that end up on American streets. ‘I expect to be lowering that because I believe they’re going to help us with the fentanyl situation,’ Trump said to reporters aboard Air Force One, making clear that tariff relief will hinge on Beijing taking meaningful steps to stop the export of chemicals central to fentanyl’s manufacture. Fentanyl has devastated families from coast to coast, and Trump is showing America what it means to stand up to China and demand accountability.
Trump said he expected Beijing would be “doing things” and work with him directly to address the export of precursor chemicals critical to manufacturing fentanyl.
In a pivotal display of leadership, President Trump also signaled that trade talks wouldn’t just be about punishment, but possibility. Trump highlighted that the U.S. is ‘doing very well with rare earths’—a critical component of both American manufacturing and national security—and promised to leverage all available tools to strengthen America’s hand. The President’s stated intention to put the fentanyl crisis at the forefront of his negotiations is a direct response to the growing call across the country for tough, practical solutions, something Trump’s America First agenda has consistently delivered.
With China’s Foreign Ministry continuing to insist that fentanyl is ‘primarily a U.S. problem,’ the President’s willingness to tie critical tariff decisions to verifiable Chinese action on fentanyl exports demonstrates a pro-active, results-oriented approach that’s starkly different from the weakness and delays seen under past administrations. By forcing Beijing to act, Trump shows once again that the American people finally have a leader who refuses to surrender to international foot-dragging or diplomatic platitudes.
Securing America’s Technology Future: Nvidia, AI, and New Trade Leverage
While stopping fentanyl remains urgent, Trump’s talks with Xi Jinping (CCP) aren’t limited to confronting crime and drug trafficking—they reach directly into the heart of the technology rivalry between the world’s two superpowers. As part of the ongoing trade saga, Trump will specifically discuss Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell artificial intelligence (AI) processor, a technological leap that’s put America “years ahead” of would-be competitors like China. Trump referred to the Blackwell chips as ‘super-duper,’ and signaled to both American and Chinese stakeholders that America is once again in control of the world’s most important innovations. These high-level talks could alter the course of the U.S.-China technology landscape for a generation, bringing thousands of good-paying jobs, new factories, and secure supply chains back to American soil.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang expressed optimism about returning to the Chinese market, stating he has ‘100 per cent confidence in President Trump’s ability to cut a great deal for America.’
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, recently invited into the Oval Office to share the first U.S.-made Blackwell AI chip wafer, underscored the tremendous progress made through Trump’s agenda, noting the importance of American partnership with TSMC to bring chipmaking back to U.S. shores. According to Ainvest, Huang even praised Trump’s tariffs as the driving force behind America’s strengthened semiconductor supply chain, highlighting how strategic trade enforcement serves as a catalyst for national renewal.
Of course, any talk of allowing China to access even a portion of Nvidia’s cutting-edge technology will demand strict safeguards, transparency, and a benefit to American industry and workers. As reported by the Mint, the President’s openness to providing China limited, less powerful Blackwell processors reflects his confidence in negotiating outcomes that always prioritize U.S. dominance. Trump has also confirmed an agreement with Nvidia and AMD for these companies to share 15% of China revenue with the U.S., further cementing America’s economic edge.
This ongoing high-stakes dialogue—with both AI and rare earths on the table—demonstrates the power of negotiating from a position of strength and innovation. Conservative champions of free enterprise are already lauding these potential breakthroughs as proof of what Trump-style leadership can achieve for American prosperity and security.
Cracking Down on Fentanyl and Forging a Tougher Trade Doctrine
Few issues resonate across the American heartland as much as the twin crises of illegal drugs and unfair trade practices. President Trump’s record-setting willingness to recalibrate U.S. tariffs from 20% to potentially 10% on Chinese products—but only in exchange for verifiable action on China’s part to curb fentanyl exports—marks a historic shift in how America wields economic power to save lives. Notably, Trump’s policies could lower the overall average U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from roughly 55% to as low as 45%, amplifying the strategic impact across multiple sectors.
China has previously stated that fentanyl is primarily a U.S. problem, and it is the U.S.’s responsibility to solve it, highlighting the diplomatic sensitivity around the issue.
By leveraging America’s trade position, Trump is forcing China to confront its responsibility in the opioid epidemic—something no previous administration dared attempt. This tough stance comes in spite of diplomatic resistance from China’s leadership, who have repeatedly claimed that America must solve its own drug problem. Instead of accepting excuses, Trump demands results, turning what others see as insurmountable challenges into opportunities for breakthrough solutions.
Conservatives nationwide see the strategy as a textbook example of common-sense, America First foreign policy: combining toughness, incentive, and innovation. There are broad implications for American industry, public health, and global leadership, given Trump’s reputation for securing favorable deals that protect American interests. Policy experts note that this combination of diplomatic engagement and hard-nosed accountability may finally force China to address the chemical loopholes that have allowed fentanyl to flood the U.S. market. Should China fail to deliver, Trump has made clear that tariff relief will not proceed, ensuring that America retains its full arsenal of economic tools to defend its citizens.
As a result of these moves, optimism is rising not just in political circles but across tech and business communities, who stand to gain from a recalibrated relationship that leverages American strengths. By pressing on the dual fronts of drug enforcement and technological supremacy, President Trump offers a template for future conservative leadership: one that prioritizes safety at home, prosperity for American workers, and a clear-eyed understanding of America’s role in the twenty-first century.