Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife were greeted with fanfare and a screaming flyover that visibly shook President Donald Trump.
Rows of US soldiers stood at attention as F-35 fighter jets and Air Force One loomed behind them at Joint Base Andrews (JBA), home of the president’s fleet, to welcome Xi and his wife, Madame Peng.
A military band played as US officials rushed to roll a red carpet up to the Chinese president’s massive Air China jumbo jet.
The last time it was done was in 2015, when Barack Obama greeted Pope Francis at JBA, according to C-SPAN.
Trump, ironically, criticized Obama for showering Xi with a ‘full honors ceremony with music and cannons’ during a visit in 2012. ‘So wrong,’ the then-reality star chided on X.
On the tarmac at the Air Force base, a flyover roared overhead to mark the Chinese president’s arrival. Trump notably winced and cracked a brief smile at the thunderous roar while Xi remained stone-faced.
The ceremony mirrored the welcome Trump received on his trip to Beijing in May, which also had a lavish carpet and troops standing at attention.
The presidential limo, known as the Beast, pulled up with the president and First Lady who then met Xi and his wife at the plane, where the pair exchanged remarks for several minutes.
Trump winces and Xi remains emotionless as a roaring US military flyover rips overhead
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday
The first couple of China touched down just before 6:00 pm local time. They will stay in the nation’s capital through Friday afternoon
A US Air Force flyover roared overhead as Xi remained unflinching and Trump cracked a smile
Though given the wind and the roaring engines, and the lack of media, it was impossible to determine what the two world leaders said upon Xi’s touchdown.
Trump and Melania’s warm welcome marks the first time a US president has met a world leader at an airport in over 11 years.
This year’s grandeur has jilted some Republicans who have been critical of Xi, notably one Trump ally who slammed the president for hosting a ‘lavish’ trip for a ‘dictator.’
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, one of Trump’s allies in the upper chamber, issued a blistering critique on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
‘Had the White House asked me for advice, I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome,’ the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman said.
‘During every minute of dialog, our commander-in-chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America,’ Wicker continued.
However, all the airport fanfare was subject to a media blackout after Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
Staff from Fox, CBS and NBC attended the event but did not film while listening to the judge deliberate the banned outlets’ lawsuit against the administration.
During the media ban emergency hearing, Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik urged US District Judge Timothy Kelly to not restore reporters’ passes until after Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits, citing national security concerns.
Tensions loom in the upcoming trade talks between Xi and Trump, who are expected to address a slew of issues from technology to the future of Tehran.
The two presidents are expected to talk about AI, technology, trade, Taiwan and Iran
Members from seemingly all the branches of the US military partook in the welcome ceremony
Besides the two having bilateral negotiations, there will also be an array of cultural and social events over the three-day visit.
A state dinner will be hosted in the White House’s East Room on Thursday evening with CEOs and Cabinet members on the invite list.
The Trumps, Xi and Madame Peng will also visit the National Archives to view historical documents. Notably, the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution are housed there.
Amid the niceties, Xi is reportedly planning to press Trump on Taiwan and a $14 billion US military package that has been approved but not yet shipped to the island nation that China claims sovereignty over.
Trade will also be top of mind as the trade truce the two struck ends on November 10 and there has yet to be a breakthrough on a range of topics, including rare-earth minerals.
