President Trump extended an unusually grand welcome to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, greeting him personally on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland—a rare honor that has ignited sharp criticism from both parties.
Xi's plane landed just before 6:00 p.m. EDT, and Trump, alongside First Lady Melania Trump, met the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the foot of a 100-foot red carpet. Two children holding bouquets stood nearby. The ceremony included a cannon salute, a 21-person honor cordon, and two color guards displaying the U.S. and Chinese flags. A dozen fighter jets—six F-16s and six F-22s—were parked on the tarmac, and the U.S. Air Force band performed both national anthems. The event closed with a flyover of two B-1 bombers.
The three-day state visit is set to focus on trade, artificial intelligence, and regional security, but the pomp has already drawn fire. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) took to the floor Tuesday night, warning that Trump should not forget the nature of his guest. "I know the President intends to discuss trade and AI with the Chinese leadership—and rightfully so... But, during every minute of dialogue, our commander-in-chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected, and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America," Wicker said.
Senior Senate Democrats also condemned the spectacle, arguing that Xi's regime supports U.S. adversaries like Russia and Iran, threatens Taiwan, and holds American citizens. In a joint statement, they accused Trump of "rolling out the red carpet" while American families struggle with rising costs. "President Xi gets the royal treatment while President Trump hurls threats and wages trade wars on allies like Canada," the Democrats wrote. "This is not leadership, and Americans deserve better."
The ceremony was more elaborate than the one Xi offered Trump during his May visit to Beijing, where Trump was greeted by Vice President Han Zheng and a smaller contingent. That event also featured a red carpet and synchronized children waving flags.
First Lady Melania Trump explained the decision earlier Wednesday on Fox & Friends, saying the two leaders "have a great relationship" and that "he's coming on our soil, and we need to welcome them with the most respect."
Presidents have rarely granted such tarmac welcomes. Barack Obama did so for Pope Francis in 2015, and George W. Bush for Pope Benedict XVI in 2008. Trump previously offered the honor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, greeting him at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska and inviting him into the presidential motorcade.
While the White House frames this as personal diplomacy, national security experts warn it gives undue deference to a major adversary. Xi's last visit to the U.S. was in 2023 for the APEC summit, but his last official state visit was more than a decade ago under President Obama.
As the visit proceeds, lawmakers are also pressing for stricter controls on AI chip exports to China, a key issue likely to be on the agenda. The political fallout from this lavish welcome is expected to reverberate in Washington for days.
