Trump and Xi Meet at the White House

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday with a grand ceremony, leading to an extended, private meeting between the two leaders, away from the prying eyes of the press.

The event was attended by numerous reporters, photographers, and videographers, creating quite a scene. There were some tense moments among the Chinese press and a White House photographer on the South Lawn as they jostled for the best angles to capture images of the presidents.

The visit kicked off with a welcoming ceremony on the South Lawn, where Trump and First Lady Melania Trump extended their greetings to Xi and Madam Liyuan Peng.

Shortly thereafter, Trump and Xi made statements in the Grand Foyer. During his remarks, Trump highlighted topics for discussion, such as security, technology, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the friendship he shares with Xi, which he described as being “built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people.”

Trump also pointed out that the Board of Trade established by the two nations in May is “working to encourage a more balanced trading relationship.”

Following Trump, Xi spoke and highlighted the significance of artificial intelligence (AI), noting that both countries are leaders in the field. There has been a lot of talk regarding the “AI arms race” that seems to be developing.

“Both China and the United States are leading nations in artificial intelligence. We have both the capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good, and ensure that the development of AI is always under human control and serves the well-being of the people,” Xi remarked.

Later, the festivities included a military review in the Rose Garden where the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps performed, followed by a captivating drill demonstration by the Marines. A military flyover featuring a B-2 bomber and four F-22 Raptors was also part of the ceremony.

After the ceremony concluded, Trump and Xi had a private meeting, after which Trump led Xi on a tour of the newly established helipad and Marine One located on the South Lawn.

At one point during the tour, Trump pointed out the presidential portraits lining the West Wing colonnade. Xi had a good laugh when he spotted an auto-pen filling in for the portrait of former President Joe Biden.

Later in the day, Trump is set to host Xi for a state dinner, with several notable figures from the tech and AI sectors, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, xAI’s Elon Musk, and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, expected to join the event.