Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 13, 2026, for a highly anticipated summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by prominent American CEOs.
Arrival and Delegation
The visit began with a formal arrival ceremony at Beijing Capital International Airport. President Trump was greeted on the tarmac by a brass band and flag wavers as he disembarked from Air Force One.
He was accompanied by a delegation of executives from major American corporations, notably including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Scheduled Itinerary
The schedule for the visit includes several key engagements:
- A welcome ceremony.
- A bilateral meeting with President Xi.
- A tour of the historic Temple of Heaven.
- A state banquet.
Trump is scheduled to depart China on Friday, following a working lunch and tea with President Xi.
Focus of High-Stakes Talks
The discussions between the two leaders are anticipated to cover several critical and sensitive geopolitical and economic topics. These expected discussion points include:
- Tariffs and trade relations.
- Rare earth minerals.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- The situation in Iran.
- Taiwan.
Experts anticipate that the summit could result in significant announcements, such as large Chinese orders for American aircraft and soybeans.
Political Commentary
Ahead of the trip, Trump posted on Truth Social, expressing his expectation of "great things" emerging from the summit. Meanwhile, Senator Steve Daines, who recently traveled to China with a congressional delegation, commented that maintaining a stable relationship and de-escalation, rather than decoupling, serves the interests of both leaders. Daines added that he hoped for trade deals, specifically mentioning potential agreements involving Boeing, beef, and beans.
