Trump breaks protocol by greeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping at military base during state visit to Washington.
President Trump welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews near Washington on Wednesday evening, breaking protocol by greeting him at the military installation rather than the White House. The arrival featured a full ceremonial reception with a 100-foot red carpet, military flyover, and formal flag and anthem presentations.
- ▪Trump and first lady Melania Trump traveled to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to personally greet Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan upon arrival
- ▪The welcome included a 100-foot red carpet flanked by US service members and a military flyover by two B-1 bombers
- ▪US presidents typically receive foreign leaders at the White House, making the tarmac greeting an unusual diplomatic gesture
- ▪Xi’s visit comes amid ongoing US-China tensions over AI development, trade policy, Taiwan, and climate issues
- ▪The state visit represents a high-level diplomatic engagement between the world’s two largest economies
- ▪Both nations’ flags and national anthems were presented as part of the formal arrival ceremony
Source: according to media reports
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