President Donald Trump is preparing to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington for a closely watched state visit that could shape the next phase of the world’s most consequential economic and strategic rivalry.
Trump is scheduled to greet Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening, an unusual personal airport welcome before the formal White House summit begins Thursday. The president and first lady Melania Trump will then host the Chinese couple for a state arrival ceremony, private talks and a state dinner.
The elaborate reception will include hundreds of U.S. military personnel, a review in the Rose Garden and a flyover by a B-2 Spirit and four F-22 Raptors, according to details released by the White House.
But behind the ceremony is a packed agenda involving tariffs, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, critical minerals and China’s relationship with Iran.
“We’re going to talk about a lot. It’s going to be a great meeting,” Trump told reporters Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, according to ABC News. Trump said he and Xi have “a very good relationship,” while acknowledging that each leader is ultimately fighting for his own country.
A Trade Deadline Approaches
One immediate question is whether Trump and Xi can extend a U.S.-China trade truce that is set to expire Nov. 10.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that officials have discussed tariff relief for certain noncritical goods. The two governments have also been working to put into operation a U.S.-China Board of Trade created after Trump’s May trip to Beijing.
The administration says that earlier agreement produced Chinese commitments involving American aircraft, agricultural products, beef and poultry, while also addressing U.S. concerns about access to rare earths and critical minerals. The White House described those commitments in May as gains for American workers and farmers.
Still, expectations for a sweeping new commercial package appear limited. The Wall Street Journal reported that Xi is unlikely to arrive with a group of Chinese corporate executives, reducing the likelihood of major business announcements during the visit.
AI Moves To Center Stage
Artificial intelligence is expected to be one of the summit’s defining issues as Washington and Beijing compete for technological leadership.
Senior White House officials told reporters that AI will be on the agenda, according to ABC News. Bessent has said U.S. and Chinese officials discussed a notification mechanism for AI incidents that rise to the level of a national-security threat. He argued that greater transparency between the world’s two leading AI powers could reduce the risks surrounding the technology.
Trump has simultaneously made clear that he does not want international rules to slow American development. During his U.N. address Tuesday, the president said the United States intends to retain its lead over China while resisting what he described as excessive global control over AI.
The guest list underscores the issue’s importance. ABC News reported that top American technology leaders, including executives from Nvidia, OpenAI, Meta, Google, Tesla and Amazon, are expected at Thursday’s state dinner.
Pressure From Capitol Hill
Trump is also facing calls from members of his own party to confront Xi over security and human-rights issues.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said Tuesday that he would have advised Trump against offering Xi such a “lavish welcome.” In remarks released by his office, Wicker urged the president to raise China’s military buildup, its reported support for Iran and Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other religious groups.
Wicker said progress on trade and AI would be welcome, but warned that Trump should remain mindful of Xi’s record and China’s military ambitions.
Taiwan may present another difficult test. Beijing is expected to press Trump over U.S. weapons sales to the self-governing island, while American officials remain concerned about China’s military pressure in the Taiwan Strait.
Iran could also become a point of friction. Trump has called for greater economic isolation of Tehran, while lawmakers have accused China of helping sustain the Iranian government through trade and other support. Trump recently played down some of those concerns, saying Xi had “behaved reasonably well,” according to ABC News.
For Trump, the visit offers a chance to turn his personal relationship with Xi into concrete gains before the tariff truce expires. For Xi, the summit provides an opportunity to seek stability with Washington while pressing China’s interests on trade, technology and Taiwan.
The pageantry begins Wednesday. The real test will come when the doors close Thursday and the two leaders sit down across the table.
