U.S. President Donald Trump has met China’s Xi Jinping for the start of their high-stakes summit in Beijing.
A gun salute, military display and the playing of the two countries’ national anthems followed a handshake between the two leaders. They are due to meet for bilateral closed-door talks at the Great Hall of the People for most of Thursday.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is with Trump in Beijing, said that China is “our top political challenge.”
Rubio also said in a Fox News interview that the U.S.-China relationship is the “most important” to manage.
“We're going to have interests of ours that are going to be in conflict with interests of theirs; to avoid wars and maintain peace and stability in the world, we're gonna have to manage those,” he added.
Following their official sit-down, Trump and Xi will tour the historic Temple of Heaven, a 15th-century complex, before attending a state banquet.
Read MoreA humiliated Trump will be played by China
The symbolism of venue for Trump-Xi summit – and the tricky question of what they should eat
Key Points
- Trump posts video of his arrival in China
- Marco Rubio says U.S.-China relationship is 'most important' to manage
- Trump is now in Beijing... what comes next?
- In pictures: US president arrives to fanfare in China
- Trump arrives in China flanked by CEOs and billionaires
- What Trump and Xi will discuss during China visit – and what could go wrong
Trump and Xi walk down the red carpet as drummers continue to play
03:12 , Shweta SharmaBoth seem to be wearing different shades of blue with Trump wearing his trademark bright red tie and Xi in more muted tones.
Kids waved flags and gave a loud welcome to Trump and Xi.
Trump is now receiving guard of honour
03:09 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump is now receiving a guard of honour in Beijing as the formal welcome ceremony continues at the Great Hall of the People.
A military honour guard has been lined up for inspection, with ceremonial music being played as part of the state reception. Gun salutes were also heard as the event got underway, underscoring the formal protocol of the visit.
Breaking: Trump and Xi arrive for start of formal welcome ceremony
03:05 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump and Xi Jinping have arrived for the start of their formal welcome ceremony.
The two leaders were seen shaking hands on arrival as the US and Chinese delegations looked on.
Trump’s Beijing welcome ceremony to kick off shortly
03:02 , Shweta SharmaThe formal welcoming ceremony for Donald Trump in Beijing is now under way as top US officials begin arriving at Tiananmen Square.
Trump’s motorcade has departed the hotel where the US president is staying and is making its way through the Chinese capital towards the Great Hall of the People, where the main ceremony will take place.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio and other senior American officials have already started arriving at the square, with tight security in place around the vast ceremonial complex in central Beijing.
The carefully choreographed reception is expected to include military honours, a red carpet welcome and bilateral meetings between the two leaders.
IN PICTURES: Trump arrives in Beijing
03:00 , Rachel Dobkin
No blue skies for Trump as smog shrouds Beijing skyline
02:45 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump will move through the Chinese capital under a shroud of smog this morning.
The capital’s air quality index climbed above 150 on Wednesday – far exceeding World Health Organization guidelines for safe air – leaving Beijing blanketed in a grey haze of pollution harmful to human health.
Air pollution has long been a major problem in China, with cities including Beijing frequently battling dense smog caused by coal burning, heavy industry, vehicle emissions and construction dust.
During his 2017 visit, Beijing authorities made efforts to clear the skies ahead of Trump’s visit, with factories ordered to halt work and cars with some cars also banned from roads.
EDITORIAL: Donald Trump’s China visit will make one thing clear – who runs the world
02:30 , The Independent ViewThe ceremonials in Beijing, embellishing the state visit by Donald Trump to the People’s Republic of China, are a reminder to the entire world of who is now running the planet.
Almost half of global GDP is now accounted for by these two superpowers, and there is no conflict on Earth that does not affect their interests in some way. The future course of everything from climate change to AI to the war in Iran depends on their relationship.
Read on...
Donald Trump’s China visit will make clear who runs the world
Musk promotes Starlink from Beijing
02:26 , Shweta SharmaElon Musk spent the morning posting about Starlink on X from Beijing despite the platform itself remaining banned in China under the country’s heavy censorship.
Musk, who joined Donald Trump’s delegation for the US-China summit, appeared active on X while inside Beijing, and continued to promote Starlink which is also effectively barred from operating in China as Beijing previously raised national security concerns over the satellite internet network.
Musk shared YouTuber MrBeast’s public endorsement of Starlink, in which he said he would “only book flights exclusively on planes with Starlink”.
posting on 𝕏 30,000 ft in the air
— Chris Park (@chrisparkX) May 13, 2026
all thanks to @Starlink @United 🫶 pic.twitter.com/EdlOzqVcal
“I don’t care if it means an extra layover – I’ll sit in the back of the plane if it gives me Starlink,” he said, describing the satellite internet service as the backbone of his global productions.
US officials and executives travelling with Trump are understood to have access to uncensored internet services despite China’s tightly controlled online ecosystem.
Trump himself has continued posting on Truth Social during the visit.
Starlink https://t.co/ExxH2WYG4B
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 13, 2026
In pictures: High security in Beijing as Trump's motorcade travels through Chinese capital
02:07 , Shweta SharmaTight security lined the streets of Beijing as Donald Trump’s heavily guarded motorcade travelled through the Chinese capital for his summit with Xi Jinping.
Police officers, security personnel and barricades could be seen across key routes as convoys of black SUVs and official vehicles moved between meeting venues under sweeping security arrangements.
Roads were temporarily cleared for the US president’s movements, while security teams monitored intersections and rooftops along the route.
Trump and his entourage arrived to a grand welcome in China with a red carpet ceremony and rows of Chinese and American flags awaiting Trump as he stepped off Air Force One in the Chinese capital.
Crowds gathered along parts of the route waving flags while Beijing’s streets were lined with floral displays and banners ahead of the high-stakes visit.
CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil failed to get a Chinese visa and will be covering Trump’s trip from over 1,000 miles away
02:00 , Rachel DobkinCBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil has reportedly been unable to obtain a visa to travel to China and will be covering President Donald Trump’s state visit from over 1,000 miles away.
Dokoupil will instead broadcast the CBS Evening News from Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, this week as Trump is set to take part in high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Semafor reports, citing two unnamed sources, that Dokoupil failed to get a Chinese visa in time for the trip. It’s unclear what the exact issue was with the visa.
This is just the latest misstep for CBS News under the leadership of Bari Weiss, and it comes as Dokoupil’s show is pulling weak ratings compared to his broadcasting counterparts.
Read on...
CBS’ Tony Dokoupil failed to get a Chinese visa to cover Trump’s state visit
Trump official says president will bring home 'good deals' during China visit
01:30 , Rachel DobkinA White House spokeswoman has said President Donald Trump will bring home “good deals” during his trip to China.
“This will be a visit of tremendous symbolic significance,” spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement to The New York Times. “But of course, President Trump never travels for symbolism alone.”
“The American people can expect the president to deliver more good deals on behalf of our country,” she added. “These agreements will further rebalance trade with China while putting American workers, farmers and families first and safeguarding U.S. economic strength in national security.”
Democratic congressman worries Trump will fall asleep in meetings with Chinese counterparts
01:00 , Brendan RasciusRep. Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat, said he is worried Trump may nod off during his sit-downs with Chinese counterparts.
“How big of a factor is Trump’s cognitive decline?” a reporter asked Ryan while walking the halls of Congress.
“It’s a huge factor,” the lawmaker said. “We’re in the midst of war. He’s negotiating with China, and we can’t be sure he’s not falling asleep in these meetings.”
Former New York mayor to discuss Trump's China visit after hospitalization
Thursday 14 May 2026 00:30 , Rachel DobkinFormer New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has returned to his talk shows after being hospitalized with pneumonia.
On his two shows, streaming Wednesday night, local time, he will discuss President Donald Trump’s visit to China.
“Mayor Giuliani appreciates the outpouring of love, support and prayers and looks forward to being back with his audience and regular viewers, behind the microphone and in front of the camera,” Giuliani’s spokesperson Ted Goodman said in a statement.
Marco Rubio says U.S.-China relationship is 'most important' to manage
Thursday 14 May 2026 00:01 , Rachel DobkinU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the U.S.-China relationship is the “most important” to manage.
Rubio told Fox News China is “both our top political challenge, geopolitically, and it’s also the most important relationship for us to manage.”
“We're going to have interests of ours that are going to be in conflict with interests of theirs; to avoid wars and maintain peace and stability in the world, we're gonna have to manage those,” he added.
What does Trump have planned for his China visit?
Wednesday 13 May 2026 23:30 , Brendan RasciusTrump’s two-day trip to China will be a busy one. Here’s a look at his schedule, obtained by Bloomberg. All times are listed in local time.
Thursday
- 10 a.m. Trump is formally greeted by President Xi Jinping
- 10:15 a.m. Trump participates in bilateral meeting with Xi
- 6 p.m. Trump takes part in state banquet
Friday
- 11:30 a.m. “Friendship photo” with Xi
- 11:40 am. Bilateral tea between both leaders
- 12:15 a.m. Lunch between both leaders
Trump faces tense China visit as Iran war overshadows key summit
Wednesday 13 May 2026 23:02 , Maroosha MuzaffarTrump once boasted on social media that President Xi would offer him a "big, fat hug" ahead of his upcoming trip to China.
However, Beijing's extensive economic ties to Iran, alongside persistent trade tensions stemming from Trump's first term, threaten to dampen any anticipated warmth when he arrives today.
This comes despite Trump's long-standing praise for Xi, whom he views as a formidable leader deserving of his respect.
Ali Wyne, senior U.S.-China research and advocacy adviser for the Washington nonprofit the Crisis Group, said the “Chinese delegation will likely do its utmost to ensure that Trump leaves Beijing believing that he has just concluded the most extraordinary state visit of his two presidencies”.
But, he said, the “pomp and circumstance would serve a different role now than they did when he first visited Beijing” because “Xi has a much better understanding of Trump, and the administration’s own national security strategy and national defense strategy recognize China as a near-peer”.
ICYMI: Here are the executives Trump brought with him to China
Wednesday 13 May 2026 22:15 , Brendan RasciusIn case you missed it, here are some of the powerful executives Trump brought with him to China for his high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, according to The Associated Press:
- Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX
- Tim Cook, CEO of Apple
- Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA
- Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock
- Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone
- Jane Fraser, CEO of Citi
- Ryan McInerney, CEO of Visa
- Dina Powell McCormick, President of Meta
China may try ‘manoeuvring’ over thorny Taiwan issue
Wednesday 13 May 2026 22:01 , Maroosha MuzaffarChina could attempt some “manoeuvring” over the issue of Taiwan during Trump’s visit to Beijing, a top Taiwanese intelligence official warned.
Speaking to reporters at parliament in Taipei last week, National Security Bureau director-general Tsai Ming-yen said the key focus of Trump’s summit with Xi was likely to be management of their issues, “not fundamental problem-solving”.
“As for the Taiwan issue, I believe the Chinese communists may attempt some manoeuvring during the talks,” Tsai said.
“However, on this point, the United States has continuously reaffirmed through both public and private channels that its Taiwan policy has not changed.”
Click here for the full story.
Read more here.
White House posts photos of Trump touching down in Beijing
Wednesday 13 May 2026 21:22 , Brendan RasciusThe White House posted several photos of President Trump’s arrival in Beijing, where he was greeted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.
The beginning of history. 🇺🇸🇨🇳
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 13, 2026
📸 President Trump arrives in Beijing, China to kick off a landmark state visit. pic.twitter.com/1duQ3sqNaM
Obama White House official criticizes lack of China experts on trip
Wednesday 13 May 2026 21:01 , Brendan RasciusA former Obama administration official criticized President Donald Trump over the apparent absence of China experts taking part in the trip — resulting in a scathing retort from the White House.
On Tuesday, a NewsNation reporter posted the names of the members of Trump’s delegation, which included Eric Trump, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller.
“Not a single China expert,” Brett Bruen, who served in the Obama White House as director of global engagement, wrote on X in response.
“POTUS would normally have at least one NSC/State official to provide briefings,” he added. “Underlines how utterly unprepared he is for meetings with Xi.”
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung fired back on X.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about you slope-brained, mouth breathing moron,” Cheung wrote. “Stop calling yourself an expert in anything, aside from sucking. Anyone that hires you (not many!) should get an immediate refund and payment for wasting their time.”
You have no idea what you’re talking about you slope-brained, mouth breathing moron. Stop calling yourself an expert in anything, aside from sucking. Anyone that hires you (not many!) should get an immediate refund and payment for wasting their time. https://t.co/gVPr2EUjFM
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) May 12, 2026
China’s axis of authoritarians is only growing stronger under Trump
Wednesday 13 May 2026 21:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarAs China hosts Trump in Beijing, America’s allies are confronting an unsettling reality: Washington no longer looks dependable, writes Ben Judah.
It is a moment for America’s traditional allies to reflect on a sobering fact: the balance of power is rapidly shifting against the United States.
Since becoming president, Trump’s actions have fractured America’s alliance system just as Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have consolidated theirs.
As if to underscore this, the Russian president will likely arrive in Beijing days after Trump. His will be a red carpet welcome.
Donald Trump’s will be far more exposing – and we all know why.
Click here for the full story.
Trump posts video of his arrival in China
Wednesday 13 May 2026 20:51 , Brendan RasciusAt 3:25 a.m. local time, President Trump posted a slow motion video of his arrival in Beijing.
The 30-second montage, shared on Truth Social, shows lines of children waving Chinese and American flags as the president steps off Air Force One.
He then proceeds down a red carpet, flanked by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and members of his delegation.
Rubio joined Trump on his trip to China despite being under sanctions
Wednesday 13 May 2026 20:09 , Ariana BaioSecretary of State Marco Rubio joined President Donald Trump on his trip to China this week, despite being under sanctions by the Chinese government.
Rubio was slapped with sanctions in 2020 after speaking out about human rights abuses in China. However, it does not appear to be effecting his ability to visit Beijing – potentially because the Chinese government began using a different character to refer to Rubio last year, before Trump tapped him as secretary of state.
The Chinese government began using “lu” to represent the first syllable in “Rubio” before he entered office. China said Tuesday it would not block Rubio for his past actions.
“The sanctions target Mr. Rubio’s words and deeds when he served as a U.S. senator concerning China,” Lin Jiant, the director of China’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, said in March when asked about the sanctions.
It’s unclear whether the name change was intentionally brought about to circumvent sanctions.
The Independent has asked the State Department for comment.
ICYMI - Images of Trump's arrival in Beijing
Wednesday 13 May 2026 20:00 , Alex Croft
Jimmy Lai’s son pins hopes on Trump to rescue jailed media tycoon during Xi visit
Wednesday 13 May 2026 20:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe son of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has implored Trump to secure his father’s release from prison during a historic state visit to China next week.
Lai, the 78-year-old founder of Apple Daily, the city’s most vocal pro-democracy newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February on disputed collusion and sedition charges, as part of a mounting national security crackdown on the former British colony by Beijing.
He has reportedly been kept in solitary confinement since his December 2020 arrest, despite mounting concerns for his deteriorating physical health.
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Trump puts China’s Xi ‘and the world’ on notice that the U.S. is ‘very good at fighting’
Wednesday 13 May 2026 19:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarTrump touted what he described as a cooperative relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, while warning of America’s military prowess if relations ever break down.
The Truth Social post that claimed the two world’s largest economies were “working together smartly, and very well.”
“Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else,” Trump posted on Wednesday.
The president also opined that Xi would greet him with “a big, fat, hug” out of gratitude for his purported effort to “permanently” open the Strait of Hormuz after starting a war that caused Iran to close the key waterway in retaliation.
Iran war quagmire threatens to leave Trump with little from China trip besides ballroom envy
Wednesday 13 May 2026 19:01 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe president’s visit with Xi Jinping was meant to be a moment of triumph, writes Andrew Feinberg, but it will instead present an optics nightmare amid rising prices due to his unilateral military action.
The war that President Donald Trump unilaterally started with Iran is sending oil prices through the stratosphere with no end in sight — and Americans are paying record-high gasoline prices just as the summer travel season comes into view. Unsurprisingly, his approval ratings are lower than they’ve ever been, and the giant ballroom that is Trump’s passion project is deeply unpopular.
So what is the leader of the free world up to this week? He’s jetting off to Beijing to be feted in a lavish state visit — including a sumptuous banquet in a golden ballroom that dwarfs the controversial monstrosity he’s building where the White House’s East Wing stood before he, wait for it, unilaterally demolished it.
US joins China and Iran on global watchlist for freedom of expression after Trump’s threats to journalists
Wednesday 13 May 2026 18:02 , Alex CroftThe US has for the first time been named alongside China, Iran and Russia on a global watchlist of countries that are cracking down on freedom of expression following repeated threats made by Donald Trump against journalists.
PEN America’s Freedom to Write Index, released on Tuesday, found that a total of 401 writers were jailed across 44 countries, an increase from 375 writers in 40 countries the year before.
The US was one of four new countries to be included in the index following the high-profile two-week-long detention of British opinion writer Sami Hamdi, an outspoken critic of Israel, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in October 2025.
“The fact that the United States is in our Freedom to Write Index for the first time should be a sharp wake-up call for everyone in the country who claims to value free expression,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, managing director of the Freedom To Write Center.
“No government can misuse its own detention and immigration systems to silence or intimidate independent voices and call itself a democracy.”
You can read our full report here.
Watch: President Trump and billionaire entourage arrive in China
Wednesday 13 May 2026 17:01 , Alex CroftCalls grow for Trump to advocate for journalist imprisoned in China
Wednesday 13 May 2026 16:29 , Alex CroftAs Donald Trump's visit to China gets underway, the International Press Institute had called on the US president to advocate for the release of imprisoned journalist Jimmy Lai during talk with Xi Jinping.
IPI executive director Scott Griffen said: “The campaign to free Jimmy Lai is far bigger than just one journalist — Jimmy’s fight for freedom is representative of the global struggle against the rising forces of authoritarianism.
Mr Lai’s release would “send a powerful signal to the world that the U.S. is willing to stand by those fighting for the values of freedom that underpin strong, democratic societies”, he said.
He added: “Securing Jimmy’s freedom is a humanitarian imperative, given his declining health. Jimmy’s release must be a prerequisite to any agreement the U.S. and China may come to during this week’s summit.
“In tying Jimmy’s release to upcoming talks, Trump can secure a major diplomatic win on one of the most difficult and high-profile press freedom cases around the world.”
Flag-waving students chant 'welcome' to Trump
Wednesday 13 May 2026 16:00 , Alex CroftAs we reported earlier, Trump was greeted as he stepped off Air Force One by hundreds of flag-waving students chanting in Chinese.
According to Sky News, they were chanting: “Welcome, welcome, warm welcome" as they waved the Chinese and US flags.
The US president departed in a motorcade shortly afterwards - the real business, including several meetings between the two presidents, isn’t due to begin until Thursday.
Frustrated Trump ‘weighing new strikes on Iran’ as he flies to China for high-stakes meeting with Xi
Wednesday 13 May 2026 15:01 , Maroosha MuzaffarTrump is considering new military strikes on Iran after dismissing Tehran’s latest peace proposal as “garbage”, according to a report, as he prepared for his high-stakes meeting with Xi Jinping in China.
Sources told CNN that Trump has grown impatient with the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and feels a division in the Iranian leadership is obstructing progress towards a deal.
Several officials now doubt whether Tehran is willing to adopt a serious negotiating stance, they said, driving the administration to reconsider their strategy.
Analysis: A humiliated Trump will be played by China
Wednesday 13 May 2026 14:37 , Maroosha MuzaffarTrump arrives in China exasperated that he has achieved none of his war aims in Iran – something President Xi will use to his advantage, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Trump was expecting a “big fat hug” from China when he visits Xi Jinping this week in thanks for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
He won’t get one, though, because he’s failed to end the throttling of Beijing’s oil supplies. Good news for China, because Trump is indifferent to his own failure.
Bad news for Taiwan. Bad news for the West. Bad news for US allies around the world. Bad news for democracies in general.
Click here for the full story.
Musk's Trump redemption arc complete as he joins critical China trip
Wednesday 13 May 2026 14:13 , Alex CroftOne of the more interesting storylines in Trump’s critical visit to Beijing is the invitation for Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.
Musk, who owns Tesla, SpaceX, and has a net worth estimated to be between $600bn to $800bn, was once excoriating in his criticism of the president when the two fell out last year.
"Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" Musk wrote in July 2025, in a now-deleted tweet.
But the pair’s relationship has been mended to such an extent that Musk was invited onboard Air Force One for the trip to China, Trump’s most crucial and high-profile visit out of the US of his second term.
Trump touches down in Beijing... what comes next?
Wednesday 13 May 2026 13:43 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has touched down in Beijing, in what is set to be a landmark moment for China-US relations.
It is the first time a US president has visited China since November 2017, when Trump visited Xi Jinping months into his first term.
The visit is underlined by deepening tensions between the rival superpowers, characterised by an intensifying trade war, strong technological competition, and disputes over new US tariffs.
In Beijing, the time is now 8:30pm on Wednesday. There is nothing currently on the schedule, with the visit set to begin in earnest on Thursday morning.
At 10am on Thursday (Wednesday 10pm ET, Thursday 3am BST), Trump will be greeted by Xi at the Great Hall of the People.
The pair will hold a bilateral meeting at 10:15am local time, before having tea together a 11:40am (Wednesday 11:40pm ET, Thursday 4:40am BST).
At 6pm on Thursday (6am ET, 11am BST) Trump will participate in a state banquet in the Great Hall.
Following lunch with Xi on at 12:15pm on Friday (12:15am ET, 5:15am BST) the president will depart Beijing and return to the White House.
In pictures: Trump arrives to fanfare in China
Wednesday 13 May 2026 13:24 , Alex Croft
Trump welcomed by flag-waving students
Wednesday 13 May 2026 13:13 , Sam RkainaTrump has now stepped off the plane to pomp and pageantry.
Dozens of Chinese students are waving flags in honor of the U.S. president’s arrival, flanked by a military guard.
Trump has been met by Han Zheng, the vice president of the People’s Republic of China, before being escorted to a waiting motorcade.
What Trump and Xi will discuss during China visit – and what could go wrong
Wednesday 13 May 2026 13:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarTrump is making the first presidential visit to China in almost a decade, at a time when an increasingly drawn-out conflict with Iran is hammering his approval ratings at home and leaving the Republicans desperate for a visible foreign policy win.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Trump pushed back this summit from a planned date in late March to a time when the White House assumed its brief “excursion” in the Middle East would be over, allowing the Americans to negotiate from a position of strength.
Instead, the U.S. seems no closer to wrapping up the war with Iran, and it is China that has come out of the situation looking like a beacon of stability, with its close ally Tehran still standing and its economy largely shielded from the global fallout of the Strait of Hormuz’s closure.
First pictures of Air Force One arriving in Beijing
Wednesday 13 May 2026 13:05 , Sam Rkaina
Trump arrives in China flanked by CEOs and billionaires
Wednesday 13 May 2026 13:02 , Sam RkainaPresident Trump has arrived in Beijing accompanied by an entourage that included Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Elon Musk after pledging to urge China's Xi Jinping to "open up" to U.S. business at the start of their two-day summit.
Trump‘s trip is the first visit by a U.S. president to China in nearly a decade.
The commander in chief will be eager to make deals, maintain a fragile trade truce with the world's second economy, and prop up public approval ratings bruised by his war with Iran.
The CEOs accompanying Trump are drawn mainly from companies seeking to resolve business issues with China, such as Nvidia, which has struggled to get regulatory permission to sell its powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips there.
Trump arrives in Beijing
Wednesday 13 May 2026 12:56 , Sam RkainaDonald Trump has landed in Beijing ahead of his two day summit with Xi Jinping.
Air Force One just touched down at the airport just before 8 p.m. local time.
Elon Musk, Tim Cook and other CEOs join Trump’s China trip
Tuesday 12 May 2026 10:53 , Maroosha MuzaffarHigh-profile executives including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook, are joining President Trump on his visit to China.
Musk and other business leaders in the U.S. delegation have major business interests in China, with international traded expected to be high on the agenda.
Trump posted about his billion dollar entourage on Truth Social as the group headed to Beijing on Wednesday.
“It is an Honor to have Jensen, Elon, Tim Apple, Larry Fink, Stephen Schwarzmann, Kelly Ortberg (Boeing), Brian Sikes (Cargill), Jane Fraser (Citi), Larry Culp (GE Aerospace), David Solomon (Goldman Sachs), Sanjay Mehrotra (Micron), Cristiano Amon (Qualcomm), and many others journeying to the Great Country of China,” Trump wrote.
Trump says talks will bring 'great things' for US and China as he leaves for Beijing
Tuesday 12 May 2026 10:21 , Maroosha MuzaffarDonald Trump said he is eager for his trip to China, describing the country as “amazing” and praising Xi Jinping as he left for Beijing.
Trump said he expects “great things” for both nations from the visit.
A large group of top American business leaders, including executives from major tech, finance, aerospace and manufacturing companies, will accompany him.
The visit, scheduled from 13 May to 15 May, will focus on trade, tariffs, Taiwan, Iran, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
Both sides are expected to discuss improving economic ties, possible cooperation in sectors such as energy and agriculture, and extending a trade truce agreed last year.
Iran will also feature prominently, with US officials planning to raise concerns about China’s links with Tehran.
