Geopolitics / Donald Trump Rolls Out Red Carpet for Xi Jinping in Washington
Key Points
Donald Trump welcomed Xi Jinping with red carpet, cannon fire, and bomber flyovers at Joint Base Andrews, launching a state visit that includes ceremonies, cultural exchanges, and a White House dinner.
Washington, Sep 24: The arrival of Chinese President
Xi Jinping in Washington unfolded with grandeur on Wednesday evening, as Donald
Trump rolled out a meticulously choreographed welcome at Joint Base Andrews.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived at 6:01 p.m. local
time, greeted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on a 100‑foot
red carpet rolled out beside their aircraft.
An Air China jet carrying Xi landed at 5:39 p.m., taxiing
past parked US military planes before stopping in front of the press risers. As
Xi and Peng descended, a US Air Force band played the national anthem while
cannons fired. Two B‑1 bombers roared overhead in a ceremonial flyover.
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Trump and Xi stood side by side, flanked by American and
Chinese flags, before departing in their respective motorcades - Trump in his
presidential limousine, the Beast.
The programme continues Thursday with a formal state arrival
ceremony at the White House, involving 479 military personnel from all
branches.
#WATCH | Chinese President Xi Jinping and First lady Peng Liyuan arrive in the United States; US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump receive them at Joint Base Andrews pic.twitter.com/ttOtyjlEnX
— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2026
The South Lawn, State Floor, and Rose Garden will host
events including a military honour cordon, herald trumpeters, and performances
by the US Marine Band, which will play both national anthems.
The ceremony will feature a presidential salute, military review, and a concluding flyover by a B‑2 Spirit bomber and four F‑22 Raptors.
Later, Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan will visit the
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, exploring centuries of cultural
exchange. A state dinner is scheduled for Thursday evening in the East Room.
On Friday, the two couples will share tea in the Red Room
before travelling to the National Archives to view historic US‑China
documents, where the farewell ceremony will take place.
Trump previously hosted Xi at Mar‑a‑Lago
in April 2017 and later visited Beijing, where the leaders toured the Forbidden
City. This week’s red‑carpet welcome underscores the
ceremonial weight attached to Xi’s visit
amid complex US‑China relations.
(IANS)
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