The stakes have been excessive throughout the meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, but when there have been any tangible political, financial or nationwide safety victories, they’re to date shrouded in thriller.
The obvious outcome was the lavish welcome the Chinese language dictator obtained from Trump for Xi’s first go to to the USA in additional than a decade.
The president traveled to Joint Base Andrews to greet Xi and his spouse in particular person as American service members actually rolled out the pink carpet minutes earlier than the Chinese language chief stepped off the airplane. A navy choir serenaded Xi and a who’s who visitor checklist of American enterprise leaders, billionaires and Washington elite at a glitzy state dinner within the East Room of the White Home.
President Donald Trump and Chinese language President Xi Jinping shake arms alongside first woman Melania Trump and Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s spouse Peng Liyuan because the depart after a tour the Nationwide Archives Museum in Washington, September 25, 2026.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters
Trump took Xi on a tour of his development initiatives, together with his White Home ballroom and helipad, exclaiming Xi “loves good granite.”
Certainly, Xi appeared impressed.
“I wish to thank the honorable president and the primary woman for every part they’ve accomplished for myself and my spouse throughout this go to. All the things is right down to the very best order of perfection,” Xi stated by way of a translator on the White Home on Friday. “And there may be thought in each little element. And it is vastly appreciated.”
Trump’s take on the finish of the go to was, “We have had an amazing go to from two spectacular individuals, and we have actually loved it. And I feel we have made super strides. We have made nice strides, very constructive for each international locations.”
President Donald Trump, first woman Melania Trump, China’s President Xi Jinping and his spouse Peng Liyuan view the Structure, Invoice of Rights and different paperwork on the Nationwide Archives, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP Photograph
Trump didn’t elaborate. He echoed these sentiments on his Reality Social platform and added solely that he and Xi plan to meet in particular person twice extra earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
When requested by a reporter if the 2 leaders mentioned the struggle in Iran, Trump stated, “We did, we did,” and including “I feel we’ll do nice,” when pressed on potential progress within the Strait of Hormuz.
David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China, stated in an interview on Fox Information on Friday the U.S. has proof China “straight or not directly” has supported Iran within the struggle, and that Trump challenged Xi on the problem throughout this summit.
“President Trump made it clear it’s unacceptable to us to have any interplay with Iran with help of the struggle,” Perdue stated. He insisted China made a “dedication to not have interaction in help.”
At one level, Trump advised reporters the U.S. and China will proceed “talking rather a lot” earlier than suggesting potential motion between the 2 international locations within the agriculture business with out providing any specifics.
“We’ll be talking rather a lot. I feel our farmers are going to be very blissful. Quite a lot of very constructive issues occurred,” he stated.
Chinese language President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump communicate throughout a state dinner on the White Home in Washington, September 24, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
On the subject of synthetic intelligence, Trump was much less centered on making public assurances that the 2 expertise leaders may fend off warnings concerning the finish of humanity from tech leaders, and extra excited about getting Xi to associate with his plan to rebrand the business as “tremendous intelligence.”
In one other social media put up, Trump stated Xi “appeared to love calling the poorly and inaccurately named Synthetic Intelligence to a much more correct and necessary identify, SUPER INTELLIGENCE. That might be “SUPER!,” Trump wrote.
Chinese language state media reported Xi advised Trump that AI have to be saved underneath human management.
In keeping with Xinhau, Xi advised Trump {that a} people-centered method ought to be upheld, and AI ought to be developed for the constructive and for good, in order that AI will serve the progress of humanity.
It is unknown what went on behind closed doorways, however many Republicans had clear expectations that Trump would put strain on Xi.
“China is an adversary, and we’ve to be very clear-eyed about that. And we’ve to press them on points whether or not its navy, whether or not its commerce, whether or not its AI or the rest we’ve to be very clear-eyed and we’ve to press them onerous,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., stated Thursday.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott stated he understands that Trump needs to be diplomatic, “however Xi’s a despicable particular person that’s killing us with fentanyl and constructing a navy to attempt to defeat us.”
