Donald Trump told a crowd in Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday that he plans to set foot in Turkey and China before the end of 2026.
The announcement came as he raised his voice over a sea of supporters, gesturing toward a map of the Eurasian continent.
“We are going to Turkey, we are going to China, and we are going to make things great again,” Trump said, pausing for applause.
He did not give specific dates, only that the trips would happen “later this year”.
Why does this matter?
The former president’s itinerary lands at a tense moment for both nations. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan faces a domestic backlash over rising inflation—currently 68% year‑over‑year—and a military standoff with Kurdish groups in the southeast.
In China, tensions over Taiwan, the South China Sea and U.S. semiconductor restrictions have deepened since 2024. A high‑profile visit by Trump could signal an attempt to bypass the Biden administration’s hawkish policy and open a back‑channel for trade talks.
What could the Trump visit change?
Analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations note that a personal rapport between Trump and Erdoğan might smooth the way for a new “energy‑security” pact, potentially bringing Turkish natural gas into the U.S. market.
Conversely, a stop in Beijing could revive discussions on American companies barred from Chinese chips, a topic that has cost the U.S. tech sector an estimated $12 billion in lost revenue.
Trump’s own statements have repeatedly warned that “China is trying to take over the world.” Yet he has also floated the idea of a “new trade deal” that would lower tariffs on Chinese goods, a pivot that would clash with the current administration’s strategy.
For American voters, the trips raise a simple question: Is a former president’s foreign outreach a distraction or a diplomatic opportunity?
Key constituencies—business groups eyeing market access, hawkish national‑security circles, and diaspora communities in both Turkey and China—will watch the itinerary closely.
In the meantime, the Biden team has not officially responded, but a senior State Department official confirmed that “the United States will continue to engage with Turkey and China through established diplomatic channels.”
As the summer months approach, the timeline for Trump’s next moves remains hazy, but the world will be watching for any concrete steps that follow his bold declaration.
Stay tuned for updates on dates, agendas, and the political fallout of what could become the most unexpected diplomatic tour of the decade.