Trump greets Chinese President Xi with ceremony amid trade and AI talks
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President Trump hosted a formal state visit for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, featuring military ceremonies and a dinner, while officials said substantive policy outcomes are unlikely.
President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan with a red-carpet arrival at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, followed by a military flyover and a brief ceremony. The next day the two leaders were scheduled to meet on the White House South Lawn in a larger arrival ceremony that would include nearly 500 service members, a band playing both national anthems and a second flyover featuring a B-2 bomber and four F-22s. After the talks, a state dinner was planned, and the couples were to have tea and visit the National Archives before the visit concluded on Friday.
U.S. officials said the agenda would focus on three core issues – trade, technology and Taiwan – but cautioned that no major policy breakthroughs were expected. "I'm not anticipating very much — I don't think anyone is," said James Lewis, a distinguished fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, describing the meeting as largely symbolic. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that China has proposed a broader trade deal beyond the existing Busan truce, which expires on Nov. 10, and that the presidents could meet up to four times this year. A U.S. trade representative also mentioned plans for a bilateral Board of Trade to handle a limited set of goods.
The discussion on artificial intelligence is expected to include a U.S. proposal for a notification system to alert both sides of AI incidents that could affect national security. A White House official confirmed AI and the trade truce are on the agenda, though details remain unclear. Analysts noted that Xi seeks access to advanced chips, while the United States continues to restrict sales of the most sophisticated AI processors to China.
Taiwan remains a contentious topic, with Beijing aiming to reunify the island and the United States maintaining a multibillion-dollar arms sales commitment. Lawmakers from both parties expressed concern over the optics of the visit. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker warned that the lavish welcome could send the wrong signal, while Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal urged the president to confront China over its activities in Iran. Despite the political criticism, some experts said the visit does not signal an imminent conflict and may reflect a broader public desire for cooperation rather than escalation.