I want my Cabinet like Xi Jinping’s, never seen men so scared, says Donald Trump | Watch

US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has said he has never seen “men so scared in their lives” as the Chinese officials accompanying President Xi Jinping, joking that he wanted his own Cabinet to be as disciplined.

Recounting his meeting with Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, Donald Trump said six Chinese officials stood behind Xi “with their backs straight,” refusing to respond when he tried to engage them.

“I made a comment to one of them, but he didn’t respond to me. So I asked him if he was going to respond, but he remained quiet… I want my Cabinet to behave like that, stand straight and with that posture. I’ve never seen men so scared in their lives,” Trump said to loud laughter from the audience at a press briefing.

Trump: 'I want my Cabinet to be like Xi’s. I’ve never seen men so scared in their lives' 'JD doesn't behave like that. He budges into conversations!' Says he wants him to be like the Chinese for a couple of days pic.twitter.com/Lo51mAUAA7

— RT (@RT_com) November 5, 2025

Trump also took a playful jab at his vice president, JD Vance, saying, “JD doesn’t behave like that. He butts into conversations. I want to have that for at least a couple of days — we’ll keep you long term, JD, but a couple of days will be very, very nice.”

He added that during his exchange with Xi, he noticed the officials’ rigid composure. “The equivalent of a vice-president… I asked him, ‘Are you going to answer my question?’ But he just moved, and I asked, ‘What’s wrong with this gentleman?’” Trump said.

The Busan meeting between Trump and Xi came amid heightened tensions between the world’s two largest economies following a new wave of tariffs on each other’s goods.

Describing the meeting as positive, Trump had earlier posted on Truth Social, “My G2 meeting with President Xi of China was a great one for both of our countries. This meeting will lead to everlasting peace and success. God bless both China and the USA!”