Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife received a high-profile welcome from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump when they arrived in the capital region for Thursday’s state visit.
Lines of US troops stood at attention at Joint Base Andrews, the home of the president’s aircraft fleet, as F-35 fighter jets and Air Force One formed the backdrop.
A military band performed while US officials hurriedly positioned a red carpet for the Chinese president’s imposing Air China jumbo jet.
The elaborate arrival ceremony echoed the reception Trump received during his May trip to Beijing, where troops also stood at attention beside a lavish red carpet.
The presidential limousine, known as The Beast, brought Trump and Melania to the aircraft. The couple then welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the foot of the plane, where the leaders exchanged remarks for several minutes.
However, strong winds, the roar of aircraft engines and the absence of media access made it impossible to establish what the two leaders said after Xi landed.
A military flyover thundered above the Air Force base to mark the Chinese president’s arrival. Trump visibly winced before breaking into a smile at the deafening noise, while Xi maintained a stern expression.
Trump and Melania’s airport welcome marked the first time in more than 11 years that a US president had personally greeted a foreign leader at an airport.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, after their arrival at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday
China’s first couple landed shortly before 6:00 pm local time and are scheduled to remain in the capital until Friday afternoon
A US Air Force flyover thundered overhead as Xi stood unflinching and Trump responded with a smile
According to C-SPAN, the previous occasion was in 2015, when Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis at Joint Base Andrews.
Trump had, ironically, criticized Obama in 2012 for giving Xi a “full honors ceremony with music and cannons” during an earlier visit. “So wrong,” the then-reality television star wrote on X.
This year’s display of pomp has unsettled some Republicans who have long criticized Xi. Among them was a prominent Trump ally who condemned the president for arranging what he called a “lavish” visit for a “dictator.”
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, a Trump ally in the Senate, delivered a forceful denunciation from the Senate floor on Tuesday.
“Had the White House asked me for advice, I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome,” said Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“During every minute of dialog, our commander-in-chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America,” Wicker added.
Despite the airport ceremony’s spectacle, the event took place under a media blackout after Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
Representatives from Fox, CBS and NBC were present, but they did not record the proceedings as a judge considered the banned outlets’ lawsuit against the administration.
At an emergency hearing over the media restrictions, Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik asked US District Judge Timothy Kelly not to reinstate the reporters’ access until after Xi Jinping’s visit, citing national security concerns.
Tensions loom in the upcoming trade talks between Xi and Trump, who are expected to address a slew of issues from technology to the future of Tehran.
The two presidents are expected to talk about AI, technology, trade, Taiwan and Iran
Members from seemingly all the branches of the US military partook in the welcome ceremony
Besides the two having bilateral negotiations, there will also be an array of cultural and social events over the three-day visit.
A state dinner will be hosted in the White House’s East Room on Thursday evening with CEOs and Cabinet members on the invite list.
The Trumps, Xi and Madame Peng will also visit the National Archives to view historical documents. Notably, the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution are housed there.
Amid the niceties, Xi is reportedly planning to press Trump on Taiwan and a $14 billion US military package that has been approved but not yet shipped to the island nation that China claims sovereignty over.
Trade will also be top of mind as the trade truce the two struck ends on November 10 and there has yet to be a breakthrough on a range of topics, including rare-earth minerals.
