TLDR
- President Trump greeted Chinese leader Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews with a red carpet and military flyover on Wednesday evening.
- It is the first time since 1962 that a sitting US president has personally welcomed a foreign leader at the airport.
- The US and China agreed to extend their trade truce to January, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
- Talks over the three day summit will cover trade, tariffs, AI, Taiwan and the Iran war.
- Experts expect tariff cuts and a truce extension, but no major breakthroughs on harder issues.
President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States on Wednesday evening. The two leaders met at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to begin a three day summit in Washington.
NOW: President Trump has greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, DC with the following:
– 100-foot-long red carpet
– Salute Battery
– 21-Person Honor Cordon
– 2 three-person color teams to include the U.S. and Chinese flag
– USAF band playing fanfare and… pic.twitter.com/X7W0oOtc2u— Jordan Conradson🇺🇸 (@ConradsonJordan) September 23, 2026
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, as an Air Force band played on the tarmac. A 100 foot red carpet was rolled out for the arrival.
Two B-1 bombers flew over the base as the band played the US national anthem. Xi’s plane landed at 5:39pm local time.
This marks the first time since 1962 that a US president has personally greeted a foreign leader at the airport. President John F. Kennedy last did so when he welcomed British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.
A Trade Truce Extension
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Wednesday that the US and China have agreed to extend their trade truce to January. The truce was originally set to expire on November 10.
Bessent says the U.S. and China agreed to extend their trade truce to Jan. 10 after he met with Vice Premier He Lifeng.
He says they also discussed a potentially bigger trade deal, though “don’t know if [it] can be done.”
Trump and Xi are also expected to meet 4 times this year pic.twitter.com/Sj1UInuFHa
— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) September 23, 2026
The agreement lowered some US tariff rates in exchange for China easing restrictions on rare earth mineral exports. Bessent said he discussed the possibility of a broader trade deal with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
As of late July, the US was charging a 36.5% tariff on Chinese goods. China was charging a 31% tariff on American products, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Analysts expect both sides to announce further tariff cuts during the summit. The plan, referred to by some as “30 by 30,” would see each country remove tariffs on $30 billion worth of the other’s goods.
What Xi Said About the Visit
In a statement carried by China’s state news agency Xinhua, Xi said the two countries “should be partners rather than rivals.” He said both nations are “great” and their people are “great people.”
Xi added that China’s growth and American growth “can fully coexist, reinforce each other and benefit the world.” He said he was confident the visit would produce results.
Xi is joined on the trip by Cai Qi, a senior Communist Party official, along with Vice Premier He Lifeng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It was not confirmed whether Xi brought Chinese business executives with him.
The summit is expected to include closed door meetings and a state dinner on Thursday. Leaders from several US AI companies are expected to attend the dinner.
Public Opinion Has Shifted
A recent poll from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 41% of Americans view China’s territorial ambitions as a threat. That is down from 52% in 2022.
The same poll found that 57% of Americans believe the US should cooperate with China. That includes a majority of Republicans who do not identify with the Maga movement, along with most Democrats.
However, 63% of Trump’s core base favors limiting relations with China. That puts them at odds with Trump’s decision to personally welcome Xi at the airport.
Experts do not expect the summit to produce major breakthroughs on harder disputes, such as Taiwan or AI technology controls. Analysts also say a breakdown in the truce would be unexpected.
Melania Trump has planned a visit with Peng Liyuan to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. The two couples are also expected to visit the National Archives before Xi’s visit concludes Friday.
Stop guessing and start investing with confidence. KnockoutStocks gives you the AI insights, market intelligence, and stock research you need to spot opportunities, cut through the noise, and make smarter investment decisions — all in one powerful platform.
Sign up today and get 50% OFF full access to our premium stock picks.
Simply use coupon code SPECIAL50 at checkout to claim your exclusive discount.
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
