Trump greets Xi with red carpet and fighter jets in rare welcome at US base
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump personally welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews, rolling out a red carpet for him. This is an unusual diplomatic gesture, as foreign leaders are typically received at the White House, according to Axios.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the foot of the aircraft stairs after the Chinese leader landed at the military base near Washington at around 6 p.m. The US military rolled out a full red carpet for the Chinese leader, while six F-16s and six F-22s were lined up on the runway, showcasing US military power.
The last time a US president personally welcomed a foreign leader at this base was in 1962, when John F. Kennedy received British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. In recent decades, several popes have also been welcomed at the airfield, including Pope Benedict XVI, who was received by George W. Bush in 2008, and Pope Francis, who was welcomed by Barack Obama in 2015.
By comparison, in February 2025, Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the entrance to the White House's West Wing, while British King Charles III was received at the residence's South Portico in April this year. Xi himself did not arrange a similar airport welcome for Trump during the US president's visit to Beijing in May.
"President Xi hosted President Trump in China for a historic summit this summer, and President Trump is reciprocating his hospitality by welcoming the Chinese delegation for a reciprocal visit this week," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.
Xi Jinping's last state visit to the United States took place in September 2015 under the Obama administration.
It was previously reported that ahead of Trump's meeting with Xi Jinping, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the US leader to involve Beijing in putting pressure on Vladimir Putin. Ukraine proposed using China's influence to pressure Russia.
It was also reported earlier that Trump was preparing a lavish welcome for Xi Jinping amid difficult negotiations, with the United States planning large-scale ceremonies for the Chinese leader's visit, although the talks themselves were not expected to be easy.
In addition, it became known that US allies in Asia are concerned that the American president could make concessions to China on Taiwan or trade in exchange for economic agreements with Beijing.
