President Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States with a formal ceremony at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. The arrival featured a 100-foot red carpet, a cannon salute, and an honor cordon of 21 people alongside color guards carrying the flags of both nations. This high-profile reception comes as the leaders prepare for a three-day state visit to discuss critical international issues, including trade and the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
The decision to provide such a lavish welcome has sparked immediate pushback from lawmakers in both parties. Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi, expressed his disapproval during a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday. He noted that he would have advised the president to not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, offered a sharp critique of the event on Wednesday. During an interview, she suggested that the display is characteristic of the president. “This is actually pretty consistent for Trump,” she told Kaitlan Collins, as reported by The Hill. “He loves dictators, and he loves the power that Xi Jinping represents, and I think this is the president really saying to the leader of China, ‘Don’t hurt me.’”
This visit follows a previous bilateral summit held earlier this year in Beijing
During that meeting, the president received a military welcome at the Great Hall of the People, complete with groups of schoolchildren waving flags and holding flowers. The current visit marks a continuation of those diplomatic exchanges, but the agenda is heavily focused on the future of technology.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a primary point of contention for lawmakers. Senator Warren has been vocal about the need to pause advanced development due to safety concerns and has urged the president to block the sale of critical AI chip technology to China.
She argued that the president should start by cutting off that supply. She added, “And then, having made clear that we’re going to cut off that supply for China, we should sit down and start negotiating with China for better constraints on AI overall to make sure we are keeping our people safe, that we are keeping the world safe.”
President Trump has maintained a different perspective on the matter. He has largely brushed aside growing concerns regarding the potential risks associated with AI. On Thursday, he confirmed that the technology will be a big topic of discussion during his meetings with the Chinese leader. He also shared his thoughts on Truth Social, stating, “I want to leave it exactly where it is. That is China’s position also,” and noted that the Justice Department serves as our guardrail.
Published: Sep 24, 2026 05:35 pm