President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding a series of high-stakes meetings on Thursday, culminating in an official state dinner at the White House. The summit marks the first state visit by a Chinese leader in over a decade, coming at a time of heightened friction between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology, and human rights.
Lawmakers from both parties have urged Trump to press Xi on a range of contentious issues, including intellectual property theft, artificial intelligence competition, and alleged human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region. The talks are expected to shape the trajectory of U.S.-China relations for years to come, with tariffs and Taiwan tensions looming large. For more on the backdrop, see the tensions framing this visit.
Meanwhile, the White House suffered a legal setback overnight when U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the administration to restore access to CNN, MSNBC, and Politico. The president had banned those outlets from the White House complex last week, prompting a First Amendment lawsuit from the news organizations. The ruling is a sharp rebuke to the administration's press restrictions, though the White House has indicated it may appeal.
In a separate development, Dr. Heidi Overton, Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration, appears before the Senate for her confirmation hearing today. Overton's outspoken anti-abortion stance puts her at the center of a political firestorm, particularly for Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who faces a tough reelection fight and has been accused of pay-for-play in a report she dismisses as a "partisan hit job." Collins's vote will test her ability to balance her pro-abortion constituents against party loyalty. For a deeper look at the dynamics, see the abortion test Collins faces.
The state dinner menu, blending American and Chinese culinary traditions, has been a subject of intrigue, but the political symbolism is not lost on critics. Bipartisan backlash has already emerged over the lavish welcome for Xi, with some lawmakers questioning the optics of rolling out the red carpet while human rights concerns remain unresolved. For more on the criticism, check the bipartisan backlash to the grand welcome.
The court ruling on the press ban has also drawn reactions from media figures. Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy has urged Trump to reverse the ban, while former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said that Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt would have opposed the move. The decision underscores ongoing tensions between the administration and the press corps.
As the summit proceeds, all eyes are on whether Trump will take a hard line with Xi or seek to ease tensions. Economic anxiety at home, reflected in Trump's sagging approval ratings, may influence his approach. The outcome of these talks could have far-reaching implications for global markets and international security.
Follow live updates below as events unfold.
