commentary The president, smarting from setbacks in war and tariffs, visits Ji Xinping ready to make deals Published May 14, 2026 9:00AM (EDT) President Donald Trump with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (Kenny HOLSTON / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) In 1972, as he was preparing for what would turn out to be his landslide reelection that November, President Richard Nixon made an historic trip to the People’s Republic of China. As the old saying goes, he was the only one who could have done it because he’s the only one who wouldn’t have been red-baited by Richard Nixon. His visit was a highly-staged affair, featuring carefully curated images avidly watched by people worldwide, as they hadn’t had a window into China for over two decades.…