President Donald Trump touched down in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 29, 2025, marking the final and most anticipated leg of his whirlwind Asia tour. The trip, which began in Japan and included meetings with key regional leaders, is set to culminate in a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30. The world’s eyes are fixed on Busan and Gyeongju, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is underway, and where the fate of global trade, security, and diplomatic relations may be shaped by the outcomes of Trump’s meetings.
Trump’s arrival in South Korea was nothing short of ceremonial. According to ABC News, Air Force One landed in Busan to a red carpet welcome, a 21-gun salute, and a band that broke into a rousing rendition of "YMCA"—a nod to Trump’s signature campaign rallies. Greeted by South Korean Foreign Minister Hyun Cho, Trump then proceeded to Gyeongju, where he would address the APEC summit and meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Security was tight in Gyeongju, as reported by CNN, with small but vocal groups of protesters holding "No Kings" signs and criticizing Trump’s trade policies, which they labeled as "oppressive" and "cruel."
Despite the protests, the South Korean government extended a warm gesture: President Lee presented Trump with a replica of a historic Silla Kingdom golden crown, symbolizing "the new era of peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula." Trump also had the rare opportunity to view six ancient Silla gold crowns brought together for a special exhibition at APEC—an event described by the National Museum of Korea as a showcase of "sacred authority and absolute rule."
The heart of Trump’s Asia tour, however, lies in diplomacy and economic negotiation. The most anticipated event is his face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders, whose relationship has defined much of the world’s economic trajectory in recent years, are expected to tackle a month-long trade war. According to the White House, this will be their first direct meeting since Trump’s return to office. Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, struck an optimistic tone: "We’re going to have a great talk. I have a lot of respect for President Xi. I like him a lot. He likes me a lot." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on ABC's This Week that a "substantial framework" for tariff negotiations had been reached, potentially averting the threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods. Bessent hinted that American soybean farmers, who have suffered during the trade standoff, would "feel very good about what’s going on, both for this season and the coming seasons, for several years."
Trade tensions weren’t limited to China. Trump’s stance toward Canada has grown frostier, as noted by CNN. He announced a planned 10% tariff increase on Canadian goods following a dispute over a "fake" ad, and made it clear he had no intention of meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the summit. "For those that are asking, we didn’t come to South Korea to see Canada!" Trump posted on social media.
Meanwhile, Trump’s rapport with Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi—the first woman to hold the post—was on full display. The leaders met in Tokyo on October 28, where they signed an implementation agreement confirming their commitment to a $550 billion trade deal and a framework to support the supply of critical minerals and rare earths, commodities crucial to both nations’ industries. Takaichi, a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, declared Japan’s intent to "fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities" and reach a defense spending target of 2% of GDP. She described the current period as a "new golden age" for US-Japan relations. As a gesture of goodwill, Takaichi gifted Trump a golf bag signed by Hideki Matsuyama and a putter once owned by Abe, and announced Japan would donate 250 cherry blossom trees to Washington, D.C., in honor of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. During their bilateral meeting, Takaichi also nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize and presented him with the official papers.
The US-Japan alliance, long a cornerstone of regional stability, was further underscored by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks in Tokyo. Hegseth described the security environment as "severe," emphasizing the need for "strong lethal combat, credible forces that are ready to deter war, and if necessary, fight and fight to win." Japanese Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi echoed these sentiments, announcing a review of Japan’s National Security Strategy to align with increased defense spending.
Trump’s Asia tour also intersected with the ongoing US government shutdown, now in its 28th day. The Federal Aviation Administration reported widespread staffing shortages and flight delays, as air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck since the shutdown began. Senate Democrats continued to block Republican stopgap funding bills, insisting that Trump’s direct involvement was necessary to resolve the impasse. The shutdown’s effects rippled through federal agencies and drew lawsuits from a coalition of Democratic-run states seeking to prevent cuts to food assistance programs.
Amid the diplomatic whirlwind, Trump was asked about the possibility of meeting North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. He responded with characteristic openness: "I’d love to meet with him if he’d like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong Un. I liked him. He liked me. If he wants to meet, I’ll be in South Korea." However, Trump indicated the schedule was tight and a meeting was unlikely during this trip, but left the door open for future engagement.
Other topics expected to be on the table during Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping include the fentanyl crisis and the global supply chain for rare earths. Trump told reporters, "We’re going to make a big step with fentanyl," and added, "China is going to be working with me, and we’re going to do something." On the thorny issue of Taiwan, Trump demurred, saying, "I don’t know that we’ll even speak about Taiwan. I’m not sure he may want to ask about it. Taiwan is Taiwan." This ambiguity reflects the delicate balance Washington maintains in its unofficial relationship with Taipei amid rising Chinese military pressure.
As the APEC summit unfolds and Trump’s Asia trip draws to a close, the region is left to ponder the lasting impact of these high-profile meetings. With trade deals inked, symbolic gifts exchanged, and both protest and pageantry on display, the outcomes of Trump’s diplomacy will reverberate well beyond the red carpets of Gyeongju and the corridors of APEC.
