# Trump rolls out red carpet for Xi's Washington visit

> US President Donald Trump hosts Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit amid tensions over trade, AI and Taiwan.
- Title: Trump rolls out red carpet for Xi's Washington visit
- Summary: US President Donald Trump hosts Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a three-day state visit amid tensions over trade, AI and Taiwan. Donald Trump hosts Xi Jinping…
- Keywords: donald trump, xi jinping, united states, china, state visit, trade agreement, artificial intelligence, taiwan, tariffs, us-china relations, news, world
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6n9w410v3vzo
- Published: 2026-09-23T05:02:55.701+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: donald trump, xi jinping, united states, china, state visit, trade agreement, artificial intelligence, taiwan, tariffs, us-china relations, news, world
## Xi arrives for historic Washington visit
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrives in Washington this week for a three-day state visit hosted by President Donald Trump. Xi will be greeted personally at Andrews Air Force Base with a military flyover.
## First state visit since 2015
This marks Xi's first state visit to the US since twenty fifteen and his third meeting with Trump in the past year. The visit includes lavish dinners, private tours and performances.
## Unprecedented welcome for an adversary
David Sacks of the Council on Foreign Relations called Trump's planned welcome "really unprecedented". He noted the military flyover and personal greeting are not afforded to US allies, much less China.

> From meeting Xi Jinping at Andrews Air Force Base to having a flyover for Xi as well, this is not something afforded to any US ally, much less an adversary like China.
## Trade deal expires in November
A US-China trade agreement reached in October twenty twenty-five is set to expire in November. The truce suspended steep tariff increases on Chinese goods while Beijing eased restrictions on rare earth exports.
## Trade deficit and rare earth concerns
Trump has long criticised the US trade deficit with China, which stands at more than ninety-one billion dollars. Chinese rare earth exports to the US remain down despite the agreement.
## AI arms race dominates agenda
Artificial intelligence has climbed rapidly toward the top of the agenda. China and the US are competing in what has been described as an AI arms race, with Trump viewing it as vital to US economic power.

> Whoever wins AI, wins.
## Tech titans attend state dinner
Several AI and tech industry leaders will attend Thursday's White House state dinner, including Open AI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and X boss Elon Musk.
## Taiwan arms sale becomes bargaining chip
Congress has approved a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan awaiting Trump's signature. Trump has held off, viewing it as a bargaining chip with China in negotiations.
## Cabinet scepticism complicates deals
Some Trump cabinet members view China with deep suspicion. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged Ford Motor Company to cut ties with China over national security and job protection concerns.
## Trump bets on personal diplomacy
Trump believes frequent meetings with Xi reduce confrontation and are vital to managing the relationship. Experts say major breakthroughs this week are unlikely, but Trump views personal contact as essential.

> He believes that the more he and President Xi meet, the less confrontational that relationship will be, and he is right.
## Key takeaway

Donald Trump hosts Xi Jinping in Washington this week with a military flyover and state dinner, seeking to extend a trade agreement expiring in November and navigate disputes over tariffs, artificial intelligence and Taiwan.