U.S. President Donald Trump gave Chinese President Xi Jinping a red-carpet welcome at the airport.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has traveled to the United States on a three-day state visit. Trump personally went to greet him when he arrived in Washington on Thursday morning.
For the first time since 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping was given a grand welcome arranged by Trump following his arrival.
Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived at the Maryland Air Force base. Trump and his wife Melania Trump were waiting there to welcome them.
#WATCH | Chinese President Xi Jinping and First lady Peng Liyuan arrive in the United States; US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump receive them at Joint Base Andrews
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2026
(Video Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/xgFZagX8cE
The Chinese president was accorded a 100-foot-long red-carpet welcome, with a cannon salute and a 21-member honor guard parade carrying American and Chinese flags. As part of the welcome ceremony, B-1 aircraft also flew over the air force base.
The leaders of the two countries are set to hold talks on trade, tariffs, technology, artificial intelligence, the military, Taiwan, Iran, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
In the 65-year history of the United States, this is the first time a president has come directly to an airport to offer a welcome. Previously, in 1962, then U.S. President John F. Kennedy had welcomed British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.
NOW: President Trump has greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, DC with the following:
— Jordan Conradson (@ConradsonJordan) September 23, 2026
- 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
US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, rolling out an elaborate military reception as the Chinese leader began a three-day state visit to Washington.