President Donald Trump received a lavish state welcome from Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on May 14, 2026. The ceremony featured goose-stepping honor guards, resounding cannon salutes, and schoolchildren waving flowers alongside U.S. and Chinese flags.
Ceremony Highlights
Trump’s motorcade arrived at 10:01 a.m. local time, right on schedule. Dressed in his signature dark suit and red tie, the president emerged to a military fanfare and approached Xi waiting at the steps. The leaders shook hands briefly, with Trump patting Xi’s hand warmly during their exchange.
Xi then greeted the front row of the U.S. delegation, which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The two presidents ascended a red and gold dais as the military band played the Star-Spangled Banner. Troops in ceremonial dress marched past, while schoolchildren chanted “welcome, welcome, welcome to China.”
Cannon salutes echoed across the square as Trump stood beside Xi, saluting the troops with a broad smile. After about 20 minutes of pomp, the leaders entered the Great Hall, followed by U.S. cabinet members, officials, and business executives.
U.S. Delegation and Key Figures
The delegation featured Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Ambassador to China David Perdue, and CEOs from major industries. Trump also traveled with his son Eric and daughter-in-law Lara, as well as Tesla’s Elon Musk and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang.
Summit Context and Agenda
This marks Trump’s first meeting with Xi since the Iran conflict began on February 28, 2026. The summit, originally planned for March but delayed due to the war, spans two days between the world’s two largest economies.
Following the ceremony, the leaders held a two-hour bilateral meeting. Trump presses Xi to influence Iran toward a ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In turn, Xi seeks tariff reductions and access to U.S.-designed AI chips.
On Wednesday, Trump urged Xi to further open China’s economy to American businesses. Recently, 17 U.S. CEOs visited the White House to address investment barriers. Trump arrived in Beijing late Wednesday evening before resting at his hotel.
