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Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, became the 45th president of the United States in 2017, after he defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the general election of 2016. His unpredictable tenure saw the beginning of a trade war between the US and China. The trade war persisted after he left office following a 2020 defeat to Joe Biden. In 2024 he mounted a third campaign, defeating Biden's then-VP, Kamala Harris, to earn a second term as president.
Born
14 Jun 1946
Industry
Politics
Job Title
45th President of the United States of America
US President Donald Trump signs executive orders at the White House on April 2, 2025, imposing tariffs on imported goods. Photo: Getty Images
SCMP Highlights

Tariffs, truces and Trump: key developments in US-China trade war in 2025

From Trump’s stiff tariffs and China’s response to high-level trade talks, here’s a selection of SCMP stories covering the major milestones.

Yuan

China sets yuan fixing rate at 15-month high amid offshore gains

North Korea

North Korea tests long-range cruise missiles after nuclear submarine progress

Israel-Gaza war

Trump and Netanyahu to discuss next phase of Gaza plan during US visit

Israel’s prime minister is making his fifth visit to see Trump in the United States this year.

A displaced Palestinian man looks at a rainbow out at sea in Gaza on Sunday. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

Open Questions | Political scientist Ivan Krastev on European vertigo in a post-American world

While melancholy Europe frets that the US and China will shape the future, middle powers are jostling for a place at the big table.

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Ukraine war

Trump predicts end to Ukraine war will be decided within ‘weeks’

After meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Zelensky and a ‘friendly’ call with Putin, US president claims a peace deal is closer.

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United States

My Take | How Elon Musk and his merry band of billionaires run the United States

China follows a different system, but perhaps America should look into why the richest Chinese do not pose a problem similar to those in the US.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
US-China relations

Opinion | Trump’s pivot puts Pacific Rim at heart of global power shift

America’s strategy is hastening the geopolitical change of influence from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with US-China competition the primary driver.

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China-Middle East relations

Why Saudi Arabia might not fulfil its US spending pledge, and the China factor

Analysts say Riyadh’s investment target of nearly US$1 trillion may not be feasible – and it’s more about optics than a binding commitment.

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United States

Opinion | Why America can no longer build something like the Manhattan Project

Rather than owning the engine of innovation, Washington is standing in line like a customer to buy tech services it doesn’t control or understand.

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Tech leaders (from the left) Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk attend Donald Trump’s inauguration in the rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington on January 20. Bezos’ Amazon has pledged to invest up to US$50 billion to expand AI and supercomputing infrastructure for “US government customers”. Photo: Pool via Reuters
Ukraine war

Russia’s Putin warns of escalation if Ukraine rejects peace talks

The Russian ‌leader said Moscow was ready to achieve its war goals by force amid contested claims of territorial gains.

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A man walks from a house destroyed after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: AP
Thailand

From PM purge to border bombs: Thailand’s year of upheaval

As the country mourns the loss of Queen Mother Sirikit amid political chaos and a sluggish economy, Lisa’s global reign lights up Thai public.

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Ukraine war

Zelensky looks to secure peace deal at Trump meet as Russian offensive mounts

Discussions at Trump’s Florida resort will cover security guarantees and territorial concessions.

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Ukraine war

Ukraine peace requires ‘a willing Russia’, says Canada’s PM Carney

Carney denounced the ‘barbarism’ of Moscow’s latest attack on Kyiv as Zelensky stopped in Nova Scotia before flying to Florida to meet Trump.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensk in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Brazil

Brazil’s former president Bolsonaro has surgery to treat hiccups, wife says

Bolsonaro, 70, had been hospitalised on Wednesday for hernia surgery. In September, he was jailed for 27 years for ‍plotting a coup.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

Zelensky says Kyiv strike proves Russia does ‘not want to end war’

Moscow hit the Ukrainian capital with nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles a day ahead of US-Ukraine talks, leaving a third of Kyiv without heat.

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SCMP Highlights

Open Questions | How Trump ‘stunned’ China; ‘Western hegemony is over’: 12 interviews from 2025

From acclaimed academics and writers to influential economists and policymakers, here are some of our best Open Questions interviews of the year.

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Malaysia

Trump’s dance, Najib’s 1MDB saga, influencer case: Malaysia leads Asean in 2025

The country hosts the region’s biggest event, sees a new twist in the 1MDB scandal and is at a critical political juncture.

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US President Donald Trump reacts to dancing performers at a welcoming ceremony after arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to attend the Asean summit on October 26. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

Trump says Zelensky ‘doesn’t have anything until I approve it’ ahead of talks

The two leaders are expected to discuss issues like the future of the Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

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Islamic State

Trump says he ordered Nigeria strike delay to ‘give a Christmas present’

‘They were going to ‍do it earlier,’ Trump said of Thursday’s strike targeting ⁠Islamic State militants, adding ‘we hit them hard’.

Venezuela

Venezuela ‘frees 99 prisoners’ detained after 2024 election protests

Rights groups said the number released ‘does not correspond to reality’ despite growing pressure from Washington on President Maduro.

Demonstrators hold a banner demanding the release of all political prisoners during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela on January 9. On Friday, the prisons authority said it had released 99 prisoners. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Deal breaker? Record Taiwan arms deal complicates Trump’s 2026 Beijing visit

The US defends new arms sales and urges ‘meaningful’ dialogue, but analysts warn the deepening rift risks hollowing out the agenda for the Trump-Xi summit next year.

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An Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile, a long-range guided weapon fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), shown during a military display. Photo: Handout
Israel

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland enrages Somalia, African Union

Several other countries also condemned Israel’s decision and Trump stated his opposition to US recognition of the breakaway state.

Ukraine war

Zelensky brings ‘90% ready’ peace plan to Trump in Florida

Leaders will discuss security guarantees and a 20-point plan on Sunday, even as conflicting demands over territory persist.

China-Latin America relations

Trump’s Venezuela gambit: power play with eye on China or weakness?

Hesitation does not equal lack of courage, observers caution, citing legal and domestic constraints and a likely pivot to ‘risk avoidance’.

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US forces have reportedly been ordered to enforce a “quarantine” on Venezuelan oil, targeting all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving the country. Photo: Xinhua
China's military weapons

Is China quietly preparing cargo ships to transform into military vessels?

Containers bear the words ‘plan for the maritime revival of the Chinese nation and the community of shared future for mankind in the ocean’.

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Images of a cargo ship in Shanghai carrying containerised vertical launchers, sensors and self defence systems have gone viral online. Photo: Wexin
Banking & finance

Opinion | To harness crypto ingenuity, financial threat must first be neutralised

Future of money must be shaped by competition between private ingenuity and public purpose, not by rent seeking and speculative bubbles.

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India

Indian rice could become costlier for US amid Trump’s tariff threat

Experts warn of wider repercussions, including efforts by importers to divert shipments and renewed strain in US-India trade talks.

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