Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Trump Rolls Out Rare Red-Carpet Welcome for Xi
Donald Trump gave Chinese leader Xi Jinping an unusually grand welcome in the United States.
Trump and Melania Trump met Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at a military airport near Washington.
A band played, military aircraft flew overhead and fighter jets were displayed nearby.
Xi’s visit also includes a formal dinner, tea at the White House and a trip to the National Archives.
Trump and Xi will discuss artificial intelligence, trade, Taiwan and Iran.
The two countries are competing over technology and disagree about several important issues.
Experts do not expect a major new agreement from the meeting.
They think the leaders may mainly keep their existing trade truce in place.
Some American lawmakers said the welcome was too generous to Xi.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump personally welcomed Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday.
Xi’s three-day visit includes military flyovers, a White House state banquet, tea and a National Archives visit.
Talks are expected to focus on artificial intelligence, trade, Taiwan and Iran, with few breakthroughs anticipated.
Analysts expect the leaders may extend their existing trade truce, described as a “gentleman’s agreement.”
Republican Senator Roger Wicker criticized the lavish reception, calling Xi a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by their wives and senior officials.
- What
- A high-profile US-China state visit featuring a rare personal airport welcome, ceremonial events and talks on bilateral disputes.
- When
- Xi arrived Wednesday; formal talks are scheduled for Thursday, and the visit concludes Friday morning. The reports were published September 24, 2026.
- Where
- Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the White House and the National Archives near Washington.
- Why
- The visit is intended to preserve a fragile US-China diplomatic and trade truce while addressing tensions over artificial intelligence, trade, Taiwan and Iran.
Diplomatic Engagement
Strategic Restraint
Purpose of the welcome
Diplomatic Engagement
The elaborate ceremony can preserve the fragile detente and create a constructive setting for direct talks between Washington and Beijing.
Strategic Restraint
The welcome may grant excessive prestige to a Chinese Communist Party leader whom critics describe as an unelected and oppressive dictator.
Expected summit outcome
Diplomatic Engagement
Extending the trade truce would be a practical result that could help stabilize relations even without broader agreements.
Strategic Restraint
Low expectations for concrete agreements suggest the summit may produce limited progress on AI, trade, Taiwan or Iran.
Handling Iran allegations
Diplomatic Engagement
Trump has played down the need to confront China over alleged assistance to Iran, noting that both countries spy on each other.
Strategic Restraint
China hawks argue that reports of Chinese intelligence assistance connected to attacks on US troops warrant a tougher response.
- Airport welcome
- Trump and Melania Trump met Xi and Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews at 6 p.m. local time, or 2200 GMT.
- Visit schedule
- Xi’s visit lasts three days and concludes Friday morning.
- Ceremonial program
- The program includes military flyovers, a White House state banquet, tea and a visit to the National Archives.
- Main agenda
- Artificial intelligence, trade, Taiwan and Iran are expected to feature in the leaders’ discussions.
- AI discussions
- Scott Bessent and He Lifeng discussed creating a communication channel for AI-related concerns, but released few details.
- Expected outcome
- Analysts expect a possible extension of the trade truce rather than major new agreements.
- Protocol dispute
- Xi did not personally greet Trump during Trump’s previous Beijing visit; China’s vice president received him instead.
- Domestic criticism
- Senator Roger Wicker said he would have advised against such a lavish welcome for Xi.
