China rolls out red carpet for Trump ahead of high-stakes Xi showdown
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President Donald Trump was greeted with pomp and courtesy by the Chinese when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a high-stakes bilateral meeting between the two countries.
Trump boarded his armored car on Thursday morning local time and met Xi in front of a crowd of military personnel, dignitaries, music and children in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
After shaking hands with the Chinese president, the two introduced each other to dignitaries and then stood under the red-and-yellow ceremonial canopy for photos as the star-spangled banner and the Chinese national anthem played in the background.
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“This was one of the very few honors I’ve ever seen before,” Trump said after walking toward the Great Hall. “I think I was particularly impressed by those kids. They were happy, they were beautiful. The military obviously — it couldn’t have been better — but those kids were amazing and they represent so much. And I know, I know, they represent so much to you.”
President Donald Trump was greeted with pomp and courtesy by the Chinese when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a high-stakes bilateral meeting between the two countries. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The ceremony marked the official start of Trump’s high-stakes visit; The demonstration outside the Great Hall has been replaced by a series of meetings expected to focus on trade, security and broader efforts to stabilize relations between Washington and Beijing.
The discussions will test whether a public display of diplomacy can translate into progress on the deep disagreements that continue to define the U.S.-China relationship.
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The ceremony marked the official start of President Donald Trump’s high-stakes visit. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
During the inauguration ceremony, Trump walked around and marveled at the pomp and circumstance, which included children waving flags and holding flowers.
The event featured a march by Chinese soldiers and music by Chinese military bands.
Xi was seen shaking hands with cabinet members as well as many of Trump’s closest advisers, such as policy adviser Stephen Miller and communications director Steven Cheung.
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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The public part of the bilateral meeting that took place after the ceremony was quite short.
“I look forward to our discussions on important issues that are important to our two countries and the world,” one of Xi’s translators said.
