Summary
President Donald Trump closed out his high-profile summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by taking him on Friday to the US National Archives in Washington, DC. The visit was expected to see both leaders stress their views about the history and direction of ties between their countries. The stop capped a three-day state visit that mixed heavy ceremony with limited concrete outcomes.
Background
Xi’s trip marked his first visit to Washington since September 2015, arriving in the US capital shortly after the pope. Trump, Xi and their spouses gathered for a tea session on Friday before heading to the archives, on the final day of Xi’s US state visit. The visit followed a reciprocal arrangement, since Xi had hosted Trump in China for a summit earlier this summer, and Trump was returning the hospitality by welcoming the Chinese delegation to Washington.
Details
Trump personally greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews, which was the US president’s first time traveling to that facility to welcome a foreign leader. The two sides then moved into a packed schedule of ceremonial and substantive events, including a Rose Garden military review, bilateral talks, and a state dinner.
Thursday’s talks focused on trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war, alongside displays of military fanfare and a lavish banquet. Shortly after Xi’s arrival, both leaders delivered remarks from the Grand Foyer of the White House, where they stressed the importance of discussions on artificial intelligence.
On trade, the September 25 schedule shifted toward a more personal register, opening with a private tea before both delegations toured the National Archives to view the country’s founding documents, an itinerary choice tied explicitly to America’s 250th anniversary commemorations. China has not commented on the visit to the archives, but analysts believe Xi may be keen to see records relating to the US switch of recognition from Taiwan to communist China in 1979.
Quotes
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told CNBC that President Xi had hosted President Trump in China for a historic summit this summer, and President Trump was reciprocating that hospitality by welcoming the Chinese delegation for a return visit.
Impact
Thursday’s lavish state summit appeared heavy on symbolism but light on substance, with no sign of major breakthroughs between the world’s biggest economies. Senate Democrats criticized the summit, arguing Trump had failed to secure meaningful concessions from Beijing on trade, security, artificial intelligence or human rights. They also faulted Trump for not publicly addressing China’s military pressure on Taiwan and called for immediate delivery of approved military aid and arms sales to the island.
China claims self-governing Taiwan as its own, and Xi has long pushed Trump to state clearly that Washington opposes Taiwan’s independence, rather than the long-standing formulation that the US simply does not support independence.
Conclusion
With the summit now concluded and the Chinese delegation departing from Joint Base Andrews later on Friday, attention turns to whether the AI and trade discussions translate into follow-up agreements. Analysts will be watching for China’s response on the archives visit and any shift in Washington’s public language on Taiwan in the weeks ahead.
FAQs
What day is the Trump Xi summit?
The Washington summit ran across three days, from September 23 to September 25, 2026, with the main White House meetings and state dinner taking place on September 24, and the closing tea and National Archives tour on September 25.
Does Xi Jinping like Trump?
Public reporting shows the two leaders exchanged warm, complimentary remarks at the state dinner and during their joint appearances, though this reflects diplomatic messaging rather than a personal relationship that can be independently verified.
Where is president Xi now?
As of Friday, September 25, 2026, Xi was in Washington, DC, completing the final leg of his state visit, which included a private tea at the White House and a tour of the National Archives, before his delegation’s scheduled departure from Joint Base Andrews.5
