ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump described Chinese President Xi Jinping as “VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH” in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.

“I like President XI of China, always have, and always will,” Trump wrote. “But he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!”

The post followed reports that Trump and Xi could speak “this week,” according to a senior White House official who spoke to CNBC on Monday on condition of anonymity. While the timing remains uncertain, the two sides are expected to hold direct communication “very soon,” the official said.

The potential talks come amid renewed tensions over a trade agreement reached in Geneva on May 12. Under that deal, the US and China agreed to a 90-day suspension of most tariffs and a rollback of measures imposed since early April.

Since then, each side has accused the other of violating the terms. Trump has claimed China failed to uphold the agreement, while Beijing on Monday rejected those allegations as “groundless” and warned of strong countermeasures to defend its economic interests.