Trump slams New York Times over 'fake news' on China talks, says Xi agreed to soybean deals and tariff payments

Trump hits out at New York Times over China coverage, says Xi agreed to buy soybeans and pay tariffs

US President Donald Trump accused The New York Times of “fake news” on Friday, saying the newspaper distorted reports of his “very successful” meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which he called “a Big Victory for the U.S.A.”

Trump on Friday attacked the NYT and its reporters Lily Kuo and David Pierson, accusing them of misrepresenting his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the paper “did everything possible to make my very successful meeting with President Xi, of China, look as bad as possible,” calling the encounter a “spectacular SUCCESS.”

He claimed that the meeting resulted in China pulling back its “Rare Earths threat,” purchasing “Billions of Dollars of Soybeans and other Agricultural products,” and agreeing to pay “substantial Tariffs.”

“President Xi, a friend of mine, did the right thing for his Country, but I did the right thing for MINE,” Trump wrote, describing the outcome as a “Big Victory for the U.S.A. and, indeed, the World.”

Trump also praised the “excellent relationship” between the two countries following the talks, saying both sides had “specific plans for future talks and meetings.”

Criticizing the Times, Trump added, “For The Failing New York Times to be trying to spin this Great Event negatively, when it was the exact opposite, is a disgrace to Journalism. No wonder they are doing so badly — THEY ARE, AFTER ALL, THE FAKE NEWS!”

The comments mark Trump’s latest attack on the media, continuing a long-running feud with major US news outlets over their coverage of his administration and policies.

This comes after US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

On Wednesday, Trump recounted details of the meeting while speaking at a breakfast session with senators, joking about the conduct of Xi’s delegation during the talks in Malaysia.

He said that the issue of rare earths, once viewed as a global concern, was settled swiftly. “Two months ago, it looked like the whole world was in trouble over rare earths, and that's no longer a subject for people. It was all worked out very quickly. Without tariffs, I couldn't have done it,” Trump said.

Referring to the Chinese leader, he added, “President Xi is a tough man, smart man.”

Trump described the atmosphere during the discussion, saying that the Chinese officials accompanying Xi appeared tense. “I've never seen men so scared in their lives,” he remarked.