Trump rolls out red carpet for Xi's state visit

US President Donald Trump will host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit Thursday, with the event expected to emphasize ceremony over substantive agreements. The meeting marks Xi's first White House state visit in over a decade. The summit's likely key outcome is extending a fragile one-year trade truce, with possible deals on US soybean purchases and an AI dialogue channel. Analysts note low expectations, citing minimal preparation and a focus on optics, though both leaders face domestic pressures. Xi arrives with confidence amid China's strong trade surplus and global positioning. The state dinner will feature tech CEOs, while experts doubt major policy breakthroughs, with unresolved tensions over rare earths, drones, and Taiwan arms sales.