Xi Jinping arrives in Washington to unprecedented military welcome

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Washington on the afternoon of September 23, and President Trump and First Lady Melania have departed the White House via Marine One to personally greet him at Joint Base Andrews. A BBC reporter at the scene described an unprecedented reception, including over 10 F-16 and F-22 fighter jets and four ceremonial cannons. The personal greeting marks a rare diplomatic gesture, as the last time a U.S. president welcomed a foreign leader at Andrews was in 1962, when John F. Kennedy received British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. The base has set up two large media platforms for Chinese and American press, with over a dozen U.S. television crews present, including conservative and MAGA-aligned outlets. At least 12 U.S. military aircraft, including F-16s and advanced F-22s, are parked on one side of the platform, while four salute cannons and numerous uniformed military personnel are prepared on the other. The BBC correspondent noted that Trump's usual arrivals at Andrews involve minimal ceremony, making this elaborate setup highly unusual.