A lip reader has reportedly uncovered the secret four-word message exchanged between Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping, shedding light on the ‘tension in that moment’.
This week, Donald Trump embarked on a five-day diplomatic tour across Asia, culminating in significant discussions with the Chinese leader.
The tour began in Malaysia on October 26, followed by a visit to Japan, where Trump met with Sanae Takaichi, the country’s new prime minister and its first female leader.
Trump then proceeded to South Korea for talks with South Korea’s presidential aide Kim Yong-beom and Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Interestingly, Trump did not meet with Kim Jung-un. While Trump seemed eager for a meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim appeared less interested.
Despite this apparent snub, Trump’s negotiations with China were particularly successful.
Nicola Hickling, a lip-reading expert, claims that what Trump said in private was the most intriguing aspect of the meeting.
In a recorded interaction between Trump and Xi, Hickling reported to The Mirror that Trump whispered to Xi, “We should stick together.”
Analyzing the exchange, Hickling remarked: “From the moment Trump says ‘We should stick together’ to the quiet follow-up ‘Let’s keep working together… OK, I’ll speak to you about it… I’m sure we can work something out,’ the exchange paints a picture of back-channel diplomacy that cameras caught but the microphones didn’t.”
“Xi’s brief glance down, hesitant nod, and pursed lips speak volumes about the tension in that moment,” she added. “It’s exactly the kind of off-mic content that gives a sharper global angle on power dynamics, personal tone, and unfiltered dialogue at the world’s top table in real time.”
Speaking to reporters after their discussions, Trump announced aboard Air Force One that the US would reduce tariffs on China from 20 percent to 10 percent. These tariffs were initially imposed as a penalty for China’s alleged sale of chemicals used in fentanyl production, reducing the overall tariff rate on China from 57 percent to 47.
“I guess on the scale from zero to 10, with ten being the best, I would say the meeting was a 12. I think it was a 12,” Trump commented.
Trump also mentioned discussions on exporting more advanced computer chips to China, indicating that Nvidia would engage in talks with Chinese officials.
Xi, on his part, stated that both nations would work to finalize agreements to ensure ‘peace of mind’ for China, the US, and the global community, according to a report distributed by state media.
He emphasized the importance of focusing on ‘the benefits of co-operation rather than falling into a vicious cycle of mutual retaliation’.