President Donald Trump gave Chinese leader Xi Jinping a rare personal greeting on Wednesday evening.
Xi landed at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington to start an official three-day state visit. Trump broke normal diplomatic protocol by meeting the Chinese leader directly on the airfield pavement.
Sitting American presidents usually wait to welcome foreign counterparts at the White House. This arrival marked the first planeside presidential greeting since Barack Obama met Pope Francis in 2015.
First Lady Melania Trump joined the president on the red carpet beside the Air China jet.
Xi walked down the stairs alongside his wife, Peng Liyuan. Trump took off one glove to shake hands warmly with both guests.
A military band played both national anthems as honor guards held their flags high. Two Air Force B-1 bombers roared overhead during a dramatic flyover.
Trump told reporters afterward that the welcome went well and showed genuine respect. The warm arrival coincided with major economic news from the administration. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a two-month extension to the ongoing trade truce. Bessent shared the update during an interview on Fox News Channel.
The original bilateral agreement had been scheduled to expire on November 10. Both nations now have until January 10 to negotiate broader economic agreements. The deal keeps current tariff pauses in place across key consumer goods. It also prevents either superpower from launching fresh retaliatory measures right now. Bessent noted that negotiators want more time to tackle tough commercial issues.
Washington wants Beijing to buy more American agricultural products. American officials also want guarantees regarding exports of rare earth minerals. China seeks relief from high technology export curbs and semiconductor sanctions.
Bessent said officials remain open to either continuing the current arrangement or striking a larger pact. Trade analysts say the short deadline keeps pressure on Beijing to deliver concrete results.
The two leaders will meet formally at the White House on Thursday. Discussions will focus on artificial intelligence, regional defense, and bilateral trade flows. Trump will also host a formal state dinner for Xi and American tech executives.
Top leaders from major technology firms are scheduled to attend the evening gala.
Xi released a written statement urging both nations to act as partners rather than rivals. Both leaders face significant domestic political pressures as they sit down together. The tarmac greeting and trade truce extension give both sides a calm start to tense negotiations.
Sources Used:
- Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-arrival-washington-state-visit-baea8dbdb8c832ae1b295579709dc967
- The Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09/24/world/politics/us-china-truce-xi-trump/
- CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-xi-despite-us-china-tensions/
- The Jerusalem Post / Reuters: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-909508
- Newsday: https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/president-donald-trump-xi-jinping-china-a54127
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