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5 min readTrump and Xi meet in Washington: pageantry, truce extension, and strategic stalemate
The handshake itself was the first signal. Donald Trump met Xi Jinping on the tarmac as the Chinese leader deplaned—the first time a sitting American president has done that in 64 years. Then came the military band, the cannon fire, the flyovers, the bayonets. "Mr. Trump, it seems, loves this kind of thing," said Jason Palmer. But the lavish welcome masked a more meager outcome. Beyond the mood music, the actual deliverables from the summit were thin.
The trade truce gets two more months
The single most important result was an extension of the trade truce that has held since October of last year. The two countries will not race to raise tariffs on each other, and China will continue exporting rare earth minerals critical to American industry. But the extension is only for two months, not the multi-year arrangement China had hoped for. The truce now expires in November, meaning more negotiations lie ahead.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:43) **Summit Pageantry and Meager Outcomes** - The Trump-Xi summit is analyzed, highlighting the grand ceremonial welcome but thin substantive results.
- 2 (12:01) **Insider Teaser: U.S. Withdrawal from the Middle East** - A brief housekeeping segment promoting an Economist Insider video about America's slow withdrawal from the Middle East.
- 3 (14:03) **Shire Folk Finale: Tommy Robinson in Texas** - Introduction to the final installment of a three-part series on how British right-wing influencer Tommy Robinson is finding traction in American politics.
- 4 (17:31) **Shifting Public Sentiment on Islam in America** - Georgia Banjo discusses the growing anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S., citing a Pew survey showing 51% of Americans now view Islam as more violent, up from 25% after 9/11.
- 5 (19:36) **A Conversation with Tommy Robinson** - Georgia Banjo recounts her experience speaking directly with Tommy Robinson, who was walking his dog and called her "Jason" during one call.
- 6 (22:27) **Obituary: Bob Mackie, Dressmaker to the Stars** - A tribute to Bob Mackie, the legendary costume designer known for his glittering, iconic outfits for celebrities.
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Show Notes
Not much of real substance appears to have emerged from the get-together. But our correspondent says there are clues of how both sides view an evolving relationship. Tommy Robinson, a British far-right influencer, is increasingly well known to MAGA types in America; we examine his rise to prominence. And remembering Bob Mackie, daring dressmaker to the stars.
Watch extended clips from Insider here
Guests and host:
- Simon Rabinovich, Beijing bureau chief
- Georgia Banjo, Britain correspondent
- Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
- Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
- Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, trade war, diplomacy
- Tommy Robinson, American politics, Texas
- Bob Mackie, fashion
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