Stories
Trump Wows Xi with B-2 Bomber, F-22 Raptors in Lavish State Welcome
- •President Trump orchestrated an elaborate welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping's first state visit in over a decade, featuring a planeside greeting and a massive military demonstration.
- •The lavish display included a flyover of a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and four F-22 Raptors, showcasing US military might.
- •Trump's breach of traditional protocol by greeting Xi at Joint Base Andrews signals a willingness to trade diplomatic deference for tangible policy deliverables.
- •The three-day visit includes a State Arrival Ceremony with 479 personnel, military demonstrations, and a state dinner with tech leaders like Elon Musk.
- •First Ladies Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan will visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, and both couples will explore the National Archives.
Key Questions Answered
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a three-day state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25, marking his first such visit in over a decade. US President Donald Trump greeted him with a planeside welcome at Joint Base Andrews, featuring a military demonstration, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber flyover, and four F-22 Raptors.
During the three-day visit, leaders are scheduled to hold closed-door discussions on key geopolitical tensions, including trade, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan. The itinerary also features a State Arrival Ceremony on the White House South Lawn, a black-tie state dinner hosted by Donald and Melania Trump with tech leaders like Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, and a cultural tour of the National Archives.
US President Donald Trump personally greeting Xi Jinping's plane at Joint Base Andrews represents a notable break from traditional diplomatic protocol and past engagements. Unlike standard practices where visiting leaders drive up to the White House or are received by lower-ranking officials, this gesture shows the Trump administration trading diplomatic deference for tangible policy deliverables.
