Trump's airport welcome for Xi signals shifting US-China dynamics

President Donald Trump personally welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, a rare tarmac reception typically reserved for the pope, despite Xi having snubbed Trump with a low-level official at a Beijing summit earlier this year. The ceremony included a red carpet, a bomber flyover, and the U.S. national anthem, with Trump escorting Xi and his wife to their limousine. Analysts view the unprecedented gesture as reflecting a new power balance, suggesting Trump is appeasing Xi amid perceived U.S. losses in trade and political contests. Xi’s earlier snub involved dispatching Vice President Han Zheng, a ceremonial figure with no real authority, to receive Trump—a downgrade from past receptions. Trump’s welcome also contrasts with his treatment of allies, echoing his prior tarmac greeting for Russia’s Vladimir Putin.