Trump Welcomes Xi Jinping to Washington as US-China Tensions Ease
President Trump personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at a US military base outside Washington on Thursday, a rare gesture marking the start of a state visit aimed at easing tensions between the two superpowers over AI, trade, and Iran. Trump and First Lady Melania greeted Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, with B-1 bomber flyovers and rows of F-22 and F-16 jets on display. The three-day visit includes a White House state dinner, though analysts expect no major breakthroughs, only an extension of the fragile tariff truce. Xi's delegation notably excludes Chinese CEOs, while top US tech leaders are slated for the state dinner. The visit comes amid criticism from Republican hardliners over reported Chinese intelligence support to Iran, and as Trump faces sinking approval ratings ahead of November midterm elections.