Trump Announces Possible Postponement of China Visit Amid Rising Iran Tensions

Donald Trump’s upcoming journey to Beijing might face postponement due to the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.

The former president revealed to the Financial Times that he is considering rescheduling his planned three-day trip to China, initially set for March 31 through April 2.

During the interview, Trump appealed to China and other countries to assist in safeguarding oil tankers navigating the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for approximately 20 percent of the global oil supply.

In a bid to stabilize soaring crude oil prices, Trump has reached out to various nations, seeking their cooperation to monitor the Strait.

Expressing his hopes on social media, Trump urged countries like China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, all impacted by these artificial restrictions, to dispatch naval forces to the region, ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz no longer poses a threat from a nation he described as “totally decapitated.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian dodged the issue of sending Chinese ships to the Strait at a briefing on Monday. He also did not elaborate on the upcoming Trump trip to China. 

And now Trump’s advisors are claiming that the President’s journey to Beijing could be temporarily put on hold.

‘I know President Xi was very excited to welcome President Trump to Beijing, and I know President Trump looks forward to this trip. It’s really just a matter of the timing,’ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday morning.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing, China, from March 31 to April 2 to meet with Chinese President Xi JInping for the second time in six months. Now, Trump is saying he may have to postpone the summit due to the US-Iran war. Above the two leaders are shown at a summit in South Korea in October 2025

Trump has called on China and other countries to help defend the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian interference as oil tankers pile up and global oil prices are spiking

Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply transits through the narrow Strait of Hormuz right off of Iran’s coast. It is just 24-miles wide at its narrowest point

‘It is a leader-to-leader conversation at this point,’ Leavitt continued. ‘The president looks forward to visiting China. The dates may be moved. As commander-in-chief, it’s his number one priority right now to ensure the continued success of this Operation Epic Fury.’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also had a similar talking point while appearing on CNBC Monday morning. 

‘If the meeting, for some reason, is rescheduled, it would be rescheduled because of logistics,’ he said.

‘The President wants to remain in DC to coordinate the war effort, and that traveling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal.’

There is concern among the administration about sending the military to escort tankers through the narrow, 24-mile waterway, as US Naval ships could be within range of Iranian drones and missiles. 

The President and several members of his Cabinet have signaled that the US Navy will escort oil tankers through the Strait ‘soon,’ though they have not given specifics on when that will happen. 

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said last week that it would likely happen in March, but the President has not gone as far.

Brent crude oil, the global oil benchmark, has risen over 40 percent since the US and Israel struck Iran on February 28, killing its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

The Trump administration has told voters that the increase in gas prices will be temporary, and that it is a worthwhile sacrifice for Americans because of the historic opportunity to cripple the Islamic Republic 

Kharg Island contains deepwater ports for oil tankers and huge oil storage facilities

Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026. Smoke could be seen rising from the direction of a major UAE energy installation on March 14, in what appeared to be the latest strike targeting the Gulf’s petroleum facilities, hours after the US struck Iran’s Kharg Island

The average gas price for a gallon of regular is $3.72, according to AAA. The average a month ago was $2.93 per gallon. 

The President has said the increase in prices is a ‘very small price to pay for USA safety and peace.’

On Friday, Trump bragged about a massive strike on Iran’s Kharg Island, a small outpost of its coast that facilitates a majority of the nation’s oil exports. 

‘Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,’ he wrote.

He added that he did not go after the island’s oil infrastructure ‘for reasons of decency’, but said it’s not out of the question if Iran makes a wrong move.

‘However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,’ he said.

The Iranian military responded that oil and energy infrastructure owned by US-linked firms would ‘immediately be destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes’ if the United States struck its oil facilities, according to Iranian media.

On Saturday, it was reported that oil facilities in the United Arab Emirates were hit by Iranian strikes in retaliation for the Kharg offensive.