Who's lying? Trump or Xi?

Hi Global Recap readers,

President Trump is saying one thing, but China’s calling it all bogus.

Now everyone’s asking the real question—who’s lying? Because if one leader made the first call, it signals weakness.

• And with all the recent talk about Trump supposedly folding to China, there’s no way he can afford to look like he’s the one caving.

• Same goes for Xi. With the recent purge of his political allies in his hometown and mounting economic troubles, he can’t afford to show even a hint of weakness. Any slip could make people question his grip on power—and that’s not something he’s willing to risk.

Here’s what we know so far (+ a photo that might hint at China negotiating...?) 👇️

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Who’s Lying Here?

The US and China are at it again. This time, Trump said he’d sealed “200 trade deals” and even got a call from Xi Jinping.

But Beijing is seemingly saying that this is all fake news—again.

Trump’s Claims

In a recent interview with Time Magazine, Trump went all in, saying he’s done “200 trade deals” and that Xi Jinping personally called him.

• He’s calling himself the “gatekeeper” of the US market, comparing it to a “giant, beautiful store” where he sets the prices.

• He says these deals will be announced next month.

China’s Clapback

Regarding the claim that he’s spoken to President Xi, here’s from the transcript of the interview with Time Magazine:

To be honest, it sounds like he is deliberately being coy about it.

And it seems like Beijing isn’t having it. They straight-up called Trump’s claims “confusion” and denied any active talks.

Current Situation

• The US says it’s in talks with China on a potential deal.

• China, on the other hand, keeps shutting that down, calling the whole thing fake news.

• So the question is: who should we believe?

But Then…

The aides were seen wearing credentials for the G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting, clearly marked with “China” as their country of origin. This photo shows the Chinese team waiting for the meeting to wrap up.

But just recently, a photo surfaced that allegedly shows a top Chinese Ministry of Finance official walking into the US Treasury Department headquarters.

• The official was reportedly wearing G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting credentials while in Washington, DC.

• Apparently, the Chinese delegation wasn’t too happy about getting snapped and insisted that the press delete the photos.

🇷🇺 RUSSIA
Car Bomb Kills Russian General

A car bomb just outside Moscow has killed Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a senior Russian military officer.

The Kremlin is pointing fingers at Ukraine, but Kyiv hasn’t commented yet.

The Explosion

The blast happened in Balashikha, near Moscow, when an explosive device planted in a parked car detonated.

• Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik was the deputy head of the General Staff’s Main Operations Directorate.

• Russian investigators are combing through the scene, and CCTV footage shows the moment the car exploded.

• Some reports suggest that he was walking near it as he was trying to leave the premises.

Kremlin’s Accusations

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov wasted no time blaming Ukraine for the attack.

• Peskov called it an act of “terrorism” and said it reflects the “essence” of the Kyiv regime.

• He emphasized the need for Russia to remain vigilant despite ongoing peace talks.

Ukraine’s Silence

So far, Ukraine hasn’t responded to the accusations. It’s unclear if they’ll address it or let the Kremlin’s claims hang in the air.

Context

This comes as tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain sky-high, even with peace talks supposedly in progress.

• President Trump’s negotiators are pushing for a resolution, but recent Russian strikes on Kyiv have complicated things.

• Trump himself publicly rebuked Putin, urging him to stop the attacks and focus on peace.

🇮🇳 INDIA
Gunfire Exchange

Things are heating up between India and Pakistan. Some even believe that a war is brewing.

After a brutal terrorist attack in India that took 26 lives, India says it exchanged gunfire with Pakistani soldiers along the disputed border.

Deadly Attack

A horrifying ambush in Pahalgam left mostly Hindu tourists dead—with witnesses saying some attackers even asked if their victims were Muslim before shooting.

• A group calling itself Kashmir Resistance claimed the attack, and India points to Pakistan’s backing, though Pakistan denies any involvement.

• The attack is one of the deadliest on civilians in years, setting off a chain reaction in the region.

Border Gunfire

Just a day after the UN urged both nations “to ensure that the situation and the developments we’ve seen do not deteriorate any further,” India reported a brief exchange of fire along the Kashmir border.

• The skirmish seemingly ended without casualties, at least according to India’s military and local media.

• Pakistan’s officials stayed tight-lipped, deferring to their military for any further confirmation.

Escalating Measures

Both sides quickly ramped up their actions following the deadly ambush.

• India suspended a decades-old water treaty, shut down a major border crossing, and expelled Pakistani military advisers from its capital.

• In retaliation, Pakistan halted trade with India, closed its airspace to Indian aircraft, and warned that any water withholding would be considered “an act of war.”

🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
US Doubles Stealth
Jets Near China

The US is ramping up its presence in the Western Pacific by sending another set of stealth jets to Japan’s Kadena Air Base—clearly a power move aimed at keeping tabs on China and its allies in the region.

Jet Dispatch

America’s back at it, deploying a second group of stealth fighters to the key base in Okinawa.

• Kadena lies just 370 miles from Taiwan, making it a frontline post.

Strategic Context

This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; it’s a calculated chess move.

• US allies in the region—especially South Korea and Japan—are key players in a wider strategy to keep China's maritime ambitions in check.

• The Japanese air base helps form a critical island chain intended to limit China’s military reach into the Pacific.

New Jets on Horizon

While the current stealth fighters hold the fort, the US is already planning its next upgrade.

• The older F-15C/D Eagle jets at Kadena are set to be replaced by the state-of-the-art F-15EX Eagle II fighters.

• These new jets are expected to roll in by 2026, though rotations continue in the interim.

Why It Matters

This move clearly sends a message in a region where tensions are simmering.

• Increasing the number of stealth jets near China is a bold showing of resolve.

• It shows the US commitment to maintaining a strategic partnership with its allies.

🇺🇦 UKRAINE
Part 2: Shapiro-Zelenskyy Interview

Glad to see so many of you tuned into the Shapiro–Zelenskyy interview yesterday. I finally got a chance to check it out after landing, and from what I’ve seen, the response has been surprisingly positive.

• A lot of people said it actually shifted their perspective on Zelenskyy—and that’s not something you hear every day.

• People seemed especially pleased with how balanced it felt compared to other interviews he’s done with mainstream outlets.

• Personally, it was tough watching President Zelenskyy repeatedly thank the US—it felt a bit heartbreaking. You could tell the recent White House meeting left a mark on him. Sure, some might say he’s finally showing “gratitude,” but to me, he looked more desperate than anything—overly careful with his words at times, like he was walking on eggshells, just trying not to say the wrong thing.

To close the loop, here’s Part 2 of the interview along with Shapiro’s own breakdown. It’s definitely worth a watch—not overly politicized, and he makes some sharp points about the conflict: