Unpacking the Trump-Xi Summit
From China Global by The German Marshall Fund
May 26, 2026 · 34 min · Episode 126
About this episode
The episode discusses the atypical US-China summit led by Donald Trump and its implications for the relationship between the two countries.
Summits between US and Chinese leaders are important events. They provide opportunities to discuss sensitive issues, manage friction, and to identify ways to solve problems and promote cooperation where possible. A great deal of preparation usually goes into a US-China summit, involving hundreds of phone calls, virtual, and in-person meetings between US and Chinese officials. The May 14-15 summit in Beijing was atypical, perhaps not surprisingly since Donald Trump is a very atypical president. Today we are going to talk about the summit – the process and well as the outcomes and the implications for the US-China relationship and American interests. Joining us today to talk about these issues is Sarah Beran. Sarah Beran was senior director for China and Taiwan affairs in the National Security Council during the Biden administration from 2022 to 2024. She was subsequently deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Beijing. At the NSC, she led strategic preparations for multiple summits between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. After her 23 years in government service, Sarah joined Macro Advisory Partners.
People in this episode
Guest: Sarah Beran
Topics covered
- US-China relations
- diplomatic summits
- political commentary
- international cooperation
- national security
Keywords
- Trump-Xi summit
- US-China summit
- diplomacy
- international relations
- Biden administration
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Security Council, Macro Advisory Partners
Places: Beijing, United States, China
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