Trump to Roll Out Red Carpet for Xi at Air Force Base

President Trump will break with diplomatic protocol by personally welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping at Andrews Air Force Base on Wednesday, underscoring Washington's effort to extend a fragile trade and diplomatic truce with Beijing. The unusual gesture highlights the importance of the visit. The Republican president, 80, will greet Xi at 6 p.m. local time, a departure from the norm where foreign leaders are received by lower-ranking officials and meet the president later at the White House. Trump claims special affinity with Xi, while experts say the Chinese leader views the relationship pragmatically, managing it delicately to avoid open confrontation. The visit's pomp, including a military flyover, drew rare criticism from Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who called Xi a "brutal dictator." Experts expect mainly a trade truce extension, not breakthroughs on AI, rare earths, or sensitive issues like Taiwan and Iran. Thursday's gala will feature tech leaders including Elon Musk, who praised Xi as a "great leader."