Trump Gives Xi Lavish Welcome at Joint Base Andrews
Chinese President Xi Jinping received an elaborate welcome from US President Donald Trump at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, featuring a 100-foot red carpet, a 21-person honor guard, military formations, and a flyover by two B-1 bombers. Trump made a rare personal airport appearance to greet Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, marking the start of Xi's three-day state visit to Washington. The ceremony included a salute battery, color teams carrying US and Chinese flags, and a US Air Force band playing both national anthems. Trump, wearing a long coat and gloves, shook hands with Xi and patted him on the back. First Lady Melania Trump said the welcome was meant to show "the most respect" for the visiting leaders, with Trump having previously signaled his desire to impress Xi. The visit's programme includes a formal White House ceremony, talks in the Oval Office, and a state banquet on Thursday featuring prominent technology figures such as Nvidia's Jensen Huang and SpaceX's Elon Musk. Discussions are expected to cover trade, artificial intelligence, and Iran. The visit concludes Friday with a private tea and a viewing of historic documents at the National Archives.