Trump and Xi meet for state visit, touting 'great friendship'
President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a state visit on Thursday, praising their "truly great friendship" built on mutual respect, ahead of formal talks covering trade, AI, and geopolitical tensions. The leaders face thorny issues including China's role in Iran negotiations, Taiwan arms sales, and chip export restrictions. They extended a trade truce by two months, while Xi urged healthy competition and both emphasized responsible AI development. Trump hosted Xi with a lavish White House dinner featuring tech executives, though lawmakers criticized the warm welcome. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted a possible AI incident notification mechanism, as both sides navigate economic pressures and midterm election stakes.