Melania Trump enthusiastically prepares for Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington
First Lady Melania Trump, who has been largely absent this term, issued a lavish press release and is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan during their upcoming state visit.
After skipping the president’s May trip to Beijing and other high-profile events, First Lady Melania Trump issued an exuberant press statement ahead of Xi Jinping’s state visit, using the term “Excellency” eight times. The White House plans a multi-day program: President Trump will meet Xi and Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, followed by a ceremonial arrival on the South Lawn, a full military honor guard, and a flyover with a B-2 Spirit and four F-22 Raptors.
The couples will tour the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, share tea in the Red Room, and attend a State Dinner in the East Room. Additional events include a military review in the Rose Garden and a visit to the National Archives. The visit marks the first time a Chinese leader has been hosted at the White House since Barack Obama’s 2015 trip, and it comes despite Melania’s earlier absence from the president’s Beijing trip in his second term.
Why it matters
The visit signals a high-profile diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and China, highlighting the administration's approach to foreign relations.
How this story developed
- Sep 2 Experts say US-China summit will be shaped by Trump’s re-election push and Xi’s party agenda
- Sep 20 Beijing warned it could cancel the summit if Washington moves forward with additional Taiwan weapons sales.
- Sep 21 US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in New York to propose an AI safety notification framework for the upcoming Trump-Xi summit.
- Sep 21 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the eight‑hour New York talks “very successful” and presented a proposal for an AI safety notification mechanism.
- Sep 21 Xi scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Andrews and attend a state dinner with leading technology executives.
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