Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday (September 23), local U.S. time, to begin a three-day state visit to the U.S. Unlike previous occasions, U.S. President Donald Trump personally traveled to Joint Base Andrews to welcome the foreign dignitary from across the Pacific, with more than 10 F-16 and F-22 fighter jets and four ceremonial cannons deployed at the scene.
According to media reports, after the plane carrying Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived at the base, the U.S. side rolled out a 100-foot red carpet as a grand welcome. When the aircraft landed, the red carpet appeared visibly wrinkled, apparently affected by strong airflow or vibration. When the cabin door opened, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who leads the delegation, appeared first at the doorway. To ensure the diplomatic interaction proceeded with proper rigor and smoothness, Wang briefly paused inside the door, waiting as U.S. personnel hurriedly straightened and smoothed out the red carpet before the Chinese delegation formally descended the aircraft stairs.
9月24日，习近平抵达华盛顿进行国事访问
— 李老师不是你老师 (@whyyoutouzhele) September 23, 2026
现场，中国外交部长王毅等官员在飞机上等待美方铺设红毯 pic.twitter.com/Szp46gKNkn
All 5 Major U.S. TV Networks Skip Historic Airport Moment
After Xi and his wife stepped off the plane, they immediately shook hands and exchanged greetings with Trump and his wife, and posed for photos facing the media in accordance with diplomatic protocol. But behind this historic scene, all five major U.S. television networks were absent from the coverage, a result of the deteriorating relationship between the White House and the media. Last week, Trump announced a ban on CNN, Politico, and MS NOW — three media outlets — from covering the White House, sparking strong backlash from the press community.
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In protest, major television networks including ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC jointly launched a boycott, announcing that starting Monday (the 21st) of this week they would refuse to send crews to film any of Trump’s public events.
U.S. Rolls Out Top-Level Military Ceremony for Xi Jinping
After the photo session, the leaders of the two nations and their wives — four people in all — walked up the welcome red carpet. The national anthems of the U.S. and China were then played, followed by a 21-gun salute. At the same time, multiple U.S. military aircraft flew low over the base, including two B-1 supersonic strategic bombers, in a highly striking display. After the ceremony concluded, Trump personally bid farewell to Xi on the tarmac, and only returned to his presidential limousine after the Chinese motorcade had departed the scene in sequence.
Historical records show this is the first time in 64 years that a U.S. president has personally welcomed a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews. The last rare head-of-state airport welcome there dates back to 1962, when then-U.S. President John F. Kennedy welcomed then-British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.
Chinese Delegation Roster
The Chinese officials accompanying Xi on his U.S. visit, besides Wang Yi, include multiple ministerial-level and above officials. According to Reuters’ live broadcast, Hong Lei, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Assistant Minister and Director-General of the Protocol Department, and Sun Ning, Deputy Director-General of the Translation Department and Xi’s personal interpreter, were the first to disembark; they were followed by Politburo Standing Committee member and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Cai Qi, Wang Yi, Director of the Central Policy Research Office Tang Fangyu, Director of the National Development and Reform Commission Zheng Shanjie, Finance Minister Lan Fo’an, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
Chinese officials waiting at Joint Base Andrews included Politburo member and Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng, who had arrived in the U.S. earlier for a new round of trade talks with the U.S. side, as well as Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng and his wife Wang Dan, among others.
