Trump rolls out red carpet for Xi's US state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday, receiving a personal welcome from President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania at Joint Base Andrews, marking the start of a three-day state visit. The elaborate ceremony included a military band, a bomber flyover, and a red-carpet display of fighter jets. The visit is expected to focus on maintaining a fragile trade and diplomatic truce between the world's two largest economies, with analysts predicting no major breakthroughs. Key issues include artificial intelligence regulation and the ongoing tariff standoff, though preliminary talks between treasury officials have established a communication channel on AI concerns. The lavish welcome has drawn criticism from Republican hawks, with Senator Roger Wicker calling Xi a "brutal dictator" amid allegations of Chinese intelligence support for Iran. Trump has downplayed such concerns, while the visit also offers him a distraction from domestic political troubles ahead of November midterm elections.