Trump Now Won’t Say if He’s Actually Negotiating With Chinese President: ‘I Don’t Wanna Discuss That’

President Donald Trump dodged a question seeking to clarify comments he made about negotiating trade terms with China.

Earlier this month, Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from most countries. China was hit hardest, and the president increased the originally 34% rate to 145%, though he now claims the figure will be lower.

On Tuesday, TIME published an interview with Trump in which he said, “We’re meeting with China. We’re doing fine with everybody. But ultimately, I’ve made all the deals.”

Trump reiterated this claim on Friday, stating that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping “numerous times.” However, Beijing has disputed this, stating that no talks have occurred.

The president took questions from reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday as he headed to the funeral of Pope Francis. One reporter off-camera asked Trump about his alleged talks with Xi.

“You said that you’ve spoken to President Xi multiple times,” the reporter said. “Is that since taking office?”

“I don’t wanna discuss that,” Trump replied. “I’m speaking to a lot of people from China [inaudible]. Speaking to people all over the world on the tariffs, and we’re making very good deals. Very good. We’re gonna make our country rich. We’re not gonna be ripped off like we have been for literally the last, literally, 50 years.”

Trump’s backtracking on the 145% tariffs on Chinese goods was widely seen as a blink. The Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote a particularly critical piece regarding the president’s tariffs.

“Another harsh reality is that China called Mr. Trump’s bluff and seems to have won this round,” the board wrote. “When Mr. Trump imposed his tariffs in the first term, President Xi Jinping retaliated with some restraint and sent a delegation to negotiate a trade deal.”

Watch above via C-SPAN.