Trump Gives Xi Rare Airport Welcome as Chinese Leader Starts US State Visit

US President Donald Trump gave Chinese President Xi Jinping an unusually personal welcome on Wednesday, greeting him at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington as Xi's state visit began. After a red carpet was rolled out, Trump and First Lady Melania shook hands with Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. The two leaders then stood together on the tarmac as a military band played national anthems, and a loud flyover by two B-1 bombers appeared to startle the 80-year-old Trump, who grimaced at the noise while Xi remained composed.

Speaking to reporters afterward at the White House, Trump called the greeting a success and said he believed China appreciated it, brushing aside the fact that Xi had not extended a similar welcome to him during his May visit to Beijing.

Trade, Iran and AI on the agenda

The visit, the third meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to office, includes a formal welcome, Oval Office talks and a state banquet on Thursday, followed by tea and a visit to the National Archives on Friday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Wednesday that intensive pre-summit talks produced a two-month extension of the trade truce, pushing the deadline from November 10 to January 10. However, no Chinese CEOs are part of Xi's delegation, while several top US tech and AI executives are expected at Thursday's banquet.

Trump confirmed Iran would be discussed during the summit, despite earlier downplaying reports that Beijing had supplied Tehran with intelligence during the ongoing conflict. Artificial intelligence is also expected to be a major topic, given both countries' race for dominance in the field.

Criticism from within Trump's party

The lavish reception has drawn criticism from China hawks in the Republican Party, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, who noted that Trump's guest is an unelected and oppressive leader. The last US president to personally welcome a foreign leader at Andrews, aside from papal visits, was John F. Kennedy in 1962.