US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 22, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

Speaking to reporters as he met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington, Trump pointed to recent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping expressing his willingness to have a great relationship with China.

The US leader added: “They have some cards. We have incredible cards, but I don’t want to play those cards. If I played those cards, that would destroy China.”