Donald Trump has never been one to let a perceived media slight go unanswered and Tuesday was no different. In a lengthy, characteristically pointed post on his Truth Social platform, the 79-year-old president took direct aim at CNBC, accusing the financial news network of getting its facts badly wrong ahead of his much-anticipated visit to China.
The dispute centered on Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang. CNBC had reported that Huang was not among those invited to join Trump's delegation a report that seemed, on the surface, to have some backing. Just last week, Huang himself appeared to leave the door open when he said the decision was the president's to announce, adding that being invited would be "a great honor." His carefully worded response had fueled speculation that he might have been left off the list.
Trump moved swiftly to set the record straight. In his post, he wrote that Jensen was not only invited but was already on board Air Force One and would stay there unless Trump personally asked him to leave, which, he added, was "highly unlikely."
A Who's Who of American Business
Beyond defending Huang's spot on the trip, Trump used the post to unveil just how significant this delegation really is. The list of executives accompanying him reads like a Forbes cover story: Elon Musk of Tesla, Tim Cook of Apple (referred to by Trump with his trademark "Tim Apple"), Larry Fink of BlackRock, Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, Brian Sikes of Cargill, Jane Fraser of Citigroup, Larry Culp of GE Aerospace, David Solomon of Goldman Sachs, Sanjay Mehrotra of Micron, and Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm among others.
It's a remarkable gathering of corporate firepower, and Trump made no secret of the purpose behind it.
Opening Up China for American Business
Trump framed the trip as a historic economic opportunity, expressing his intention to personally ask President Xi Jinping to open China's market more broadly to American companies. He called Xi "a leader of extraordinary distinction" and pledged that the request to open up would be the very first item he raises when the two meet.
"I have never seen or heard of any idea that would be more beneficial to our incredible countries," Trump wrote, closing the post with a characteristically bold sign-off in full caps.
The visit is widely expected to focus on trade agreements and large-scale purchase deals between the two nations a significant development given the ongoing tensions that have defined U.S.-China economic relations in recent years.
Musk Back in the Inner Circle
The trip also signals something of a public reconciliation between Trump and Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX billionaire had taken a step back from the political spotlight in recent months, but his inclusion in this delegation suggests he remains a trusted figure within Trump's orbit. Inviting Musk to stand alongside the president on one of the most consequential foreign business trips of the administration speaks volumes about where that relationship stands.
Whether this China visit produces concrete trade wins remains to be seen but with this lineup of executives in tow, Trump is clearly signaling that he means business, quite literally.
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