Xi Jinping, Donald Trump discuss TikTok, trade, fentanyl in phone conversation

The two leaders spoke just before the US Supreme Court upheld a law that could ban the popular Chinese-owned app as soon as Sunday.

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US president-elect Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (pictured in 2019) have spoken by phone days before Trump returns to the White House. Photo: Reuters

Laura Zhouin WashingtonandKawala Xiein Washington

Published: 9:38pm, 17 Jan 2025Updated: 5:56am, 18 Jan 2025

US president-elect Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed TikTok before the US Supreme Court handed down its ruling upholding a law that would ban the social media platform in the country if it is not sold to a non-Chinese buyer.

On his Truth Social account on Friday, Trump posted that he and Xi had “just” had a call and that it was a “very good one” for both China and the US, adding the two “will do everything possible to make the world more peaceful and safe”.

“It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and starting immediately. We discussed balancing trade, fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects,” Trump said in his note, which posted at 9.28am ET, just after China’s state news agency Xinhua said Xi had spoken with Trump on the phone.

The Supreme Court ruling was issued at 10am.

According to Xinhua, Xi said he and Trump “attach great importance to mutual interactions” and “hope for a good start of the China-US relationship” during Trump’s second term.

China and the US could be “good friends and partners”, Xi added.