Xi arrives in Washington for state visit as Trump greets him at airbase
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on Wednesday for a state visit, receiving a rare personal airport welcome from US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews, marking the start of three days of diplomatic pageantry. The visit includes a state banquet at the White House on Thursday and a military flyover, with six F-22 and six F-16 fighter jets on display. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an extension of the trade war truce to January 10, though analysts expect no major breakthroughs on issues like AI regulation. Trump's warm reception has drawn criticism from Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who called Xi a "brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator." The visit comes as Trump's approval ratings hit historic lows ahead of midterm elections, with the last comparable airport welcomes occurring in the 1960s.