Trump bare-knuckles his way through China summit without his trusty cellphone

Despite the restrictions, Trump maintained his trademark confrontational style during portions of the negotiations. Sources familiar with the meetings described several heated exchanges in which the former president aggressively defended American economic interests and challenged Chinese trade practices directly.

The summit concluded with both sides signaling cautious optimism about future negotiations, though no sweeping breakthrough agreements were announced. Analysts said the talks reflected the increasingly complex relationship between the world’s two largest economies — one shaped by rivalry, mutual dependence, and constant strategic maneuvering.

For Trump, the summit offered a rare glimpse of how he operates without the digital megaphone that became central to his political identity. Even without his cellphone in hand, the former president remained at the center of the global spotlight.