The exchange at a highly anticipated summit in Beijing underscored just how far apart Mr Trump and Mr Xi still are on thorny issues, including the war in Iran, trade disputes and Washington’s relations with Taiwan, which is self-ruled but which China claims as part of its territory.
It also suggested that Trump’s three-day visit to China is likely to be longer on pageantry and symbolism than substantive political or economic breakthroughs.
The pair met for about two hours behind closed doors at the Great Hall of the People after an elaborate welcome ceremony featuring booming cannons, a band playing The Star-Spangled Banner and China’s national anthem, and hundreds of schoolchildren jumping and waving flowers and American and Chinese flags.
According to a post on X by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, Mr Xi told Mr Trump that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations”.
“If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability,” she wrote.
“Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.”
That comment followed a brief public exchange before the meeting began in which Mr Trump told Mr Xi: “You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true.”
“It’s an honour to be your friend,” Mr Trump said before promising that the US-China relationship “is going to be better than ever before”.
Mr Xi was far more stark in his opening remarks, expressing hope that the US and China could avoid conflict and asking “whether the two countries can transcend the ‘Thucydides Trap’ and forge a new model for relations between major powers”.
That is a term, popular in foreign policy studies, referring to the idea that when a rising power threatens to displace an established one, the result is often war.
Mr Xi has used the term for years, but using it as Mr Trump offered optimism was noteworthy and foreshadowed his closed-door comments on Taiwan.
Mr Xi nonetheless struck a more conciliatory tone when describing the overall relationship.
“Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both,” he said.
“The two countries should be partners rather than rivals.”
US secretary of state Marco Rubio later said US policy toward Taiwan was “unchanged” but warned that it would be “a terrible mistake” for China to take Taiwan by force.
In an interview with NBC News, Mr Rubio sidestepped Mr Xi’s warning about a potential clash with the US and said that China always raises the issue of Taiwan in talks.
“They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and we move on to the other topics,” Mr Rubio said while traveling with the president.
After their meeting, Mr Xi took Mr Trump on a tour of the Temple of Heaven, then hosted a state banquet for him.
The Chinese leader used his evening toast to note that he and Mr Trump had kept US-China relations “generally stable” in a turbulent world.
“Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand,” Mr Xi said, referring to Trump’s political movement.
“We can help each other succeed and advance the wellbeing of the whole world.”
In his toast, Mr Trump said his visit had been “a great honour” punctuated by a “fantastic” day.
He said matters “all good for the United States and China” were discussed.
Mr Trump also said Mr Xi would make a reciprocal visit to the White House on September 24 — a date not previously announced.
The positive tone was reflected in the White House assessment of the earlier meetings, which said both leaders had touched on ways to enhance economic cooperation, including expanding market access for American businesses in China and increasing Chinese investment into US industries.
The White House readout did not mention Taiwan directly, but, in relation to Iran, said both sides had agreed that the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil and natural gas, must remain open.
The strait’s closure has stranded tankers and caused energy prices to spike, threatening global economic growth.
The war is dominating Mr Trump’s domestic agenda and stoking fears about the prospect of a weakening US economy as November’s midterm elections — when Republicans hope to maintain control of Congress — approach.
China is the largest purchaser of Iranian oil, and Mr Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that Mr Trump would make the case for Beijing to exert its influence on Iran, noting that administration officials would underscore that “economies are melting down because of this crisis”, which means consumers are “buying less Chinese product”.
It is not clear if Mr Trump persuaded Mr Xi to wield his influence.
The White House instead said Mr Xi opposed any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait — as Iran has proposed — and expressed interest in China potentially purchasing more US oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.
Mr Xi’s warning about Taiwan reflects China’s displeasure with a US plan to sell weapons to the island.
The Trump administration has approved an 11 billion dollar arms package for Taiwan, but has yet to begin fulfilling it.
The US has a longstanding commitment to help the island defend itself if attacked, but Mr Trump has shown greater ambivalence toward Taiwan, fuelling speculation about whether the president could be persuaded to dial back American support.
Taiwan said after the Xi-Trump meeting that it was grateful for Washington’s “long-term support”.
“The government views all actions that contribute to regional stability and the management of potential risks from authoritarian expansion positively,” Michelle Lee, a spokesowman for Taiwan’s premier, told reporters.
She added that the US “has also repeatedly reiterated its firm and clear position of support for Taiwan”.