Xi kicks off Washington state visit with rare tarmac welcome from Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a three-day state visit to Washington on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump expected to greet him personally on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, a rare honor for a visiting leader. The visit includes a formal state dinner Thursday and reciprocal pageantry for Trump's May trip to China, though tensions remain high over trade, artificial intelligence, Iran, and Taiwan. Trump has praised Xi as a "great leader" and friend, while Senator Roger Wicker criticized the lavish welcome, calling Xi a "brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator." The schedule features a White House arrival ceremony, troop review, and a private tea with the first lady, plus a tour of the National Archives. Low expectations exist for major breakthroughs, with tech leaders like Jensen Huang and Elon Musk attending the dinner.