Trump and Xi Hold Bilateral Talks Amid Pomp and Limited Press Access

President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Tuesday, where the two leaders held a bilateral meeting followed by joint remarks in the East Room and a state dinner attended by officials and technology executives. The visit featured a red-carpet arrival, military honors and a flyover, marking Xi's first White House visit in roughly a decade.

After Xi left for a brief break, Trump received a classified intelligence briefing and attended a policy meeting, the details of which were not disclosed. The agenda for the bilateral talks was expected to include trade, artificial-intelligence safety and the Taiwan issue, though analysts said no major breakthroughs were anticipated.

Press coverage was limited; most of the day’s events were closed to reporters, and a brief scramble for access to the Oval Office meeting was quickly resolved with only still photographers allowed. Earlier in the day, a federal judge ordered the White House to restore badge access for CNN, MS Now and Politico after they had been barred, but the outlets reported continued difficulties gaining entry.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the administration for “rolling out the red carpet” for authoritarian leaders, while Republican Senator Mark Warner expressed concerns about the “lavish welcome” given to Xi amid ongoing tensions.

During his remarks, Xi announced a program to send 100,000 American students to China for study exchanges over five years and called for cooperative development of artificial intelligence that remains under human control. He also reiterated a historical narrative of U.S. and Chinese forces fighting together against fascism.

The evening concluded with a state dinner, after which Xi departed Washington.