US President Donald Trump treated Chinese President Xi Jinping to a rare personal airport welcome on Wednesday, kicking off a pomp-filled state visit aimed at smoothing superpower tensions on various issues, including AI, trade, and Iran. The welcome ceremony took place at Joint Base Andrews, a US military airfield outside Washington, where Trump and First Lady Melania shook hands with Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. The event featured a military band playing national anthems and a noisy flyover by two B-1 bombers.
The state visit, the third between Xi and Trump since the US leader took office, is expected to be more about spectacle than substance. However, there was an early breakthrough when Washington announced a two-month extension of a trade truce with Beijing, which was due to expire in November. The truce has been extended to January 10, according to US Treasury Scott Bessent, who cited intensive pre-summit talks. The visit will include a formal welcome, talks in the Oval Office, and a state banquet at the White House on Thursday.
Expectations of any breakthroughs are low, with analysts saying the main aim of the pageantry is to maintain a fragile calm between the superpower rivals. The Iran war will be on the agenda, despite Trump earlier playing down reports that Beijing was supplying Tehran with intelligence. Trump confirmed he would discuss Iran with Xi, saying it's "all coming along well, including that." The trade war sparked by Trump's tariffs last year remains a contentious issue, with no Chinese CEOs in Xi's delegation, according to sources.
AI is set to dominate the summit, with growing fears that the technology risks wiping out humanity. China and the US are racing for supremacy in the field, viewing it as crucial for the rest of the century. Preliminary talks between Bessent and his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng included discussion of creating a communication channel for AI concerns. The idea is to extend the "gentleman's agreement" to reduce tensions between Beijing and Washington despite their rivalry.
Trump's five-star welcome for Xi has drawn criticism from China hawks within his own party, especially amid reports that Beijing supplied Iran with intelligence for attacks on US troops. Republican Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Trump should keep in mind that his guest is a "brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator." The criticism comes as Trump's approval rating has plummeted to historic lows ahead of midterm elections in November.
The last American president to welcome a foreign leader at Andrews, except for papal visits, was John F. Kennedy in 1962. Trump welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin off his plane in Alaska last year. For Trump, Xi's visit is also a chance to focus on pageantry instead of problems at home, where the Iran war's effect on fuel prices has negatively impacted his approval ratings.
The state visit will wrap up on Friday morning with the two presidential couples having tea at the White House and then visiting the National Archives, home to the US Declaration of Independence. Top US tech bosses, including leaders of major AI companies, are set to attend Thursday's banquet, while no Chinese CEOs are part of Xi's delegation. The visit aims to maintain a fragile calm between the superpower rivals, with low expectations for major breakthroughs.
Key points
- The US and China have extended a trade truce to January 10.
- AI and trade are key issues on the agenda for the state visit.
- Trump's welcome of Xi has drawn criticism from China hawks within his own party.
