President Donald Trump literally rolled out the red carpet for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday night, mirroring the scene Xi gifted to Trump when the president touched down in Beijing for a state visit back in May.
Xi touched down at Joint Base Andrews just after 5:30 p.m. EDT, where he was greeted by the president, first lady Melania Trump, U.S. Air Force Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing Christopher Robinson, and the aforementioned 100-foot-long carpet.
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to board Marine One at The White House, Wednesday Sept. 23, 2026, in Washington, enroute to Joint Base Andrews to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, on their arrival. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) -
A military band moves into position before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
A military band moves into position before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
U.S. Military troops march into position before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on their arrive at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) -
The plane carrying China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan prepares to land at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
A U.S. Air Force crew moves the red carpet into place before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
An Air China airplane with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan aboard, arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) -
People move into place before President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) -
An Air China airplane with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan aboard, arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) -
A red carpet is rolled out as an Air China airplane with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan aboard, arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) -
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk with China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The pomp didn’t stop at the stairs.
After welcoming Xi, Trump began an event featuring a full salute battery, a 21-person honor cordon, color teams waving American and Chinese flags, platoons from each branch of the U.S. military, and a healthy display of American flowers.
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Furthermore, the Chinese president listened to music provided by the Air Force Band, including both the American and Chinese national anthems, and witnessed a flyover by two B-1 bombers.
Following the event, the president and first lady entered the Beast and took a short drive to Marine One parked nearby on the tarmac for their return to the White House. Xi rode into downtown Washington, D.C., in a limousine.
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You can watch Xi’s arrival in full below.