100-foot red carpet, B1 flyover and 12 US fighter jets mark Xi’s welcome ceremony
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react as Xi arrives ahead of a state visit at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, September 23, 2026. Photo: REUTERS
United States (US) President Donald Trump on Wednesday gave Chinese President Xi Jinping a rare personal welcome at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, who kicked off a three-day state visit aimed at easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, beside their aircraft after the Chinese president arrived at the US military base outside Washington.
American children presenting bouquets to Xi and his wife on arrival to the US. Photo: Xinhua
The welcome marked the first time in 11 years that a US president had greeted a foreign leader at the military facility. According to C-SPAN, the previous US president to welcome a foreign leader there was Barack Obama, who received Pope Francis at the base in 2015.
Trump, wearing a long coat and gloves, and Xi then stood side by side on the tarmac as a military band played national anthems. A noisy flyover by two B-1 bombers clearly jolted Trump, who grimaced at the roar of jets, while his Chinese guest stood by impassively, according to French newspaper Le Monde.
The ceremony included a red carpet measuring about 100 feet, while six F-22 fighter jets and six F-16s were lined up on the tarmac in a display of military hardware. The elaborate reception differed from the usual protocol for visiting foreign leaders.
Read: Xi starts high-stakes US visit with call to be ‘partners, not rivals’
Xi’s arrival launched a closely watched visit that is expected to feature extensive pageantry, including military ceremonies, an aircraft flyover and a state dinner at the White House on Thursday.
The Chinese president is due to hold talks with Trump at the White House, with trade, tariffs, artificial intelligence, drug trafficking and military-to-military communication expected to figure prominently on the agenda.
The airport welcome was particularly notable because Trump did not receive a similar personal greeting from Xi when the US president visited Beijing in May.
US President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan review an honour guard as they arrive ahead of a state visit at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, Sep 23, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Xi was accompanied by senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi, a close aide to the president, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Chinese state media reported.
Two sources told AFP that no Chinese chief executives were part of Xi’s delegation, despite the planned attendance of senior US technology executives, including leaders of major artificial intelligence companies, at Thursday’s White House dinner.
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet President Xi Jinping of China and Madame Peng Liyuan upon their arrival in Washington, D.C., ahead of the state visit at the White House. pic.twitter.com/nm2vGonChM
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026
The visit comes as Washington and Beijing seek to manage a range of thorny issues while exploring areas for cooperation. Possible tariff reductions in some sectors, efforts to combat drug trafficking, expanded military-to-military dialogue and cooperation or competition over artificial intelligence are expected to feature in the discussions.
Xi is also scheduled to visit the US National Archives during his stay.
With additional input from agencies.
