President Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday evening at Joint Base Andrews, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. This visit marks Xi's arrival in the United States for a three-day engagement focused on various topics including artificial intelligence safety, Taiwan, trade, the war in Iran, and critical minerals.
Upon arrival, Trump and the First Lady held hands as they greeted Xi and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, at the foot of the stairs of Xi's plane. The U.S. Air Force band played as the leaders mingled, and a photo opportunity was held at the bottom of the red carpet, which was lined with U.S. service members. The Chinese anthem was played, followed by the U.S. national anthem, during which Trump saluted.
Two B1 bombers flew over as the leaders exchanged pleasantries before Xi and Madame Peng entered their vehicle. Trump later spoke to reporters, indicating that discussions about Iran would take place during Xi's visit.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. and China have agreed to extend their trade truce until January 10, which was originally set to expire on November 10. Bessent stated that the extension aims to provide more time for negotiations on economic matters.
The welcoming ceremony at the airport was noted as unusual for Trump, who typically greets foreign leaders at the White House. A formal ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at the White House, where Trump and Melania will host Xi and Madame Peng. The visit will also include a review of troops in the Rose Garden and a state dinner in the East Room, attended by notable tech executives including Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Tesla's Elon Musk, and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg.
On Friday, Xi and his wife will participate in a private tea and a tour of the National Archives before departing the U.S. Xi's last state visit occurred in September 2015 during the Obama administration, and Trump visited China in May for discussions with Xi.