Xi Jinping begins U.S. state visit with Trump welcome at Joint Base Andrews
Xi Jinping arrived at Joint Base Andrews for a three-day U.S. state visit, where Donald Trump greeted him before White House events.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Chinese President Xi Jinping began his U.S. state visit on September 23, arriving at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, where President Donald Trump greeted him on the tarmac. The Xi Jinping state visit 2026 opens three days of planned ceremonies and meetings as U.S.-China tensions remain high on several issues.
Al Jazeera reported that Xi touched down at the base and that Trump personally received him. Melania Trump joined the president for the airport welcome, according to a New York Post video report.
The reception included a red carpet and a military flyover by two B-1 bombers, the BBC reported. That airport event was separate from the formal White House arrival ceremony planned for the following day.
What is on Xi Jinping’s U.S. state-visit itinerary?
The White House said Trump and the first lady were scheduled to host Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, for a state arrival ceremony on September 24. The program was to include 479 military personnel, the Chinese and U.S. national anthems, remarks by both leaders, a military review and a flyover involving a B-2 Spirit and four F-22 Raptors.
A state visit is an official trip by a foreign leader hosted by the U.S. president. It commonly combines diplomatic meetings with formal public ceremonies, including a state dinner. The White House said a dinner was planned for the evening of September 24.
For September 25, the White House scheduled tea at the White House for the two presidential couples, followed by a visit to the National Archives. The White House said they were to view records and documents connected to the history of relations between the United States and China.
What issues were expected to shape Trump and Xi’s talks?
Pre-visit reporting by the Associated Press, published by PBS NewsHour, said the leaders were expected to hold closed-door talks during a visit marked by friction over trade, artificial intelligence, the U.S. war with Iran and China’s position on Taiwan. The report said expectations for major breakthroughs were low.
The supplied post-arrival reporting does not document an agreement or outcome.
Readers can review the White House itinerary for the visit.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.