WASHINGTON, Sept 25 — US President Donald Trump treated Chinese President Xi Jinping to a rare personal airport welcome yesterday, kicking off a pomp-filled state visit aimed at smoothing superpower tensions on everything from AI and trade to Iran.
The summit is expected to be more about spectacle than substance — but there was an early breakthrough when Washington announced a two-month extension of a trade truce with Beijing that was due to expire in November.
After officials literally rolled out the red carpet, Trump and First Lady Melania shook hands with Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan once the Chinese president descended from his plane at Joint Base Andrews, a US military airfield outside Washington.
Trump, wearing a long coat and gloves, and Xi then stood side by side on the tarmac as a military band played national anthems.
A noisy flyover by two B-1 bombers clearly jolted the 80-year-old Trump, who grimaced at the roar of jets, while his Chinese guest stood by impassively.
Trump brushed off the fact that Xi had not given him a similar airport welcome when he visited Beijing in May.
“I thought it was a great little meeting, a great greeting, and I think they appreciate it,” Trump told reporters at the White House after welcoming Xi.
Iran, AI, trade
The lavish visit — the third between Xi and Trump since the US leader returned to power — will include a formal welcome and another flyover, talks in the Oval Office and a state banquet at the White House.
It will wrap up Friday morning when the two presidential couples have tea at the White House and then visit the National Archives, home to the US Declaration of Independence.
