Updated May 13, 2026 — President Donald Trump touched down in Beijing Wednesday evening to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as his administration faces the war with Iran and economic uncertainty at home.
Departing the White House, Trump framed the visit as a meeting of “the two superpowers,” saying the United States is the strongest military power and China is “considered second.” He told reporters he expected to discuss many issues with Xi but suggested Iran would not be a primary focus, saying the U.S. has the situation with Iran “very much under control.”
At Beijing Capital International Airport, Trump and his delegation were welcomed with an arrival ceremony. China’s vice president Han Zheng, foreign affairs minister Ma Zhaoxu and diplomatic representatives from both countries received the president. A group of about 300 young people waved American and Chinese flags as the delegation walked the red carpet.
Trump brought a sizable business delegation to press for greater access for U.S. companies. Business leaders seen on or reported to be traveling with Air Force One included Elon Musk; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who joined the trip in Anchorage; film director Brett Ratner; and Apple CEO Tim Cook was expected to be part of the delegation along with other corporate executives.
Also on board were Eric Trump, the Trump Organization’s executive vice president, and his wife Lara. A Trump Organization spokesperson said Eric Trump would not be conducting business during the trip.
In interviews ahead of departure, Trump emphasized the benefits of a cooperative U.S.-China relationship and said there are “a lot of advantages to us getting along.” He even posted on social media that he planned to give Xi a “big, fat hug” when they meet.
Pressed by reporters about whether American financial concerns were motivating any deal-making, Trump replied, “Not even a little bit,” adding that his primary focus remains preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The visit comes as officials on both sides weigh trade, technology access and geopolitical issues, while the international spotlight focuses on whether the two leaders can find common ground amid broader tensions.
Reporters who contributed to coverage of the trip include Kristin Brown, Sara Cook, Kathryn Watson and Weijia Jiang.