Categories
Trump hosts Xi for state dinner with tech bosses
Xi wraps up US visit with trip to National Archives
Dmytro Hubenko | Mark Hallam | Felix Tamsut with Reuters, AFP, AP, dpaPublished 09/24/2026Published September 24, 2026last updated 09/25/2026last updated September 25, 2026On the last day of his visit to the US, Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited the National Archives with President Donald Trump. The Archives store the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NAjvWhat you need to know
- On the last day of Xi Jinping's visit, he and Donald Trump, along with their spouses, had tea at the White House.
- Trump praised the progress he and Xi had made during Xi's visit to the US.
- Xi said he expected two more meetings with Trump this year.
- Trump and Xi visited the National Archives after the tea session.
- On Thursday, following the talks, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping and their wives attended a state dinner hosted in honor of the Chinese leader.
This blog is now closed.
Follow along here for updates on Xi's state visit to the US:
Skip next section Thank you for reading!09/25/2026September 25, 2026Thank you for reading!
Dmytro HubenkoWith Chinese leader Xi Jinping on his way back home, we are ending our coverage of his three-day visit to the US.
This was the second summit between Xi and US President Donald Trump this year, as well as the Chinese leader's first visit to Washington in over a decade.
Although both leaders made optimistic statements during the summit, no breakthrough was achieved.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NJeOSkip next section Trump confirms 2 more meetings with Xi this year09/25/2026September 25, 2026Trump confirms 2 more meetings with Xi this year
Dmytro HubenkoAfter Chinese leader Xi Jinping left Washington, President Donald Trump announced that he will meet with him again in November in China and in December at the G20 summit in Florida.
"The meeting was one of Friendship, Strength, and Success, for both China and the USA," Trump wrote about his summit with Xi on his Truth Social platform.
"Much has been, and will be, accomplished. I look forward to our next meeting!" he added.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NJdBSkip next section Xi leaves US for Beijing09/25/2026September 25, 2026According to the Xinhua news agency, Chinese leader Xi Jinping left Washington, concluding his three-day visit to the US.
CNN reported that Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, had a red carpet departure at Joint Base Andrews after visiting the National Archives with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NJcvSkip next section Xi and Trump examine sacred texts of US democracy at National Archives09/25/2026September 25, 2026Xi and Trump examine sacred texts of US democracy at National Archives
Dmytro HubenkoTrump confirms he discussed Iran war with Xi
Dmytro HubenkoUS President Donald Trump said he discussed the Iran war with his visiting Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
When asked if they had discussed Iran, Trump replied, "We did," as he showed Xi around the National Archives in Washington.
Trump was also asked if he thought there would be progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He replied, "I think we're going to do great."
Trump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran if no deal is reached
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NJVrSkip next section Xi says he expects to meet with Trump 2 more times this year09/25/2026September 25, 2026Xi says he expects to meet with Trump 2 more times this year
Wesley DockeryMeanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested the possibility of two more meetings with US President Donald Trump this year.
"Looking ahead to the remainder of this year, there will be two more opportunities for us to meet each other — firstly the APEC meeting in China and then the G20 summit in the United States," Xi said through a translator at the White House.
"I do welcome you, Mr President and the First Lady, to visit China," he added.
Trump responded, “We will, and we’ll be speaking a lot.”
Xi also said that the US-China relationship will be one of strategic stability based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity. He went on to say that he and Trump had agreed to add new substance to this relationship.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NJBQSkip next section Trump says he and Xi made 'tremendous strides'09/25/2026September 25, 2026Trump says he and Xi made 'tremendous strides'
Dmytro HubenkoPresident Donald Trump praised the progress he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had made during Xi's visit to the US.
"I think we've made tremendous strides, we've made great strides, very positive for both countries," Trump told journalists while he and his wife, Melania, were having tea with Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House.
Trump also added that the two sides will "be speaking a lot."
https://p.dw.com/p/5NJ9FSkip next section US to reveal details on China trade talks on Monday09/25/2026September 25, 2026US to reveal details on China trade talks on Monday
Dmytro HubenkoThe United States is expected to release details on the outcome of trade negotiations with China on Monday, according to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
"We're in a managed trade situation ... we've had progress, and we will release on Monday, I think, a lot more details about what we've accomplished over the past few weeks in negotiating with the Chinese," he told CNBC on Friday.
Greer also said that the US has agreed with China to exempt some key goods from trade disputes.
He added that the US would export agricultural products and medical devices, and import consumer goods and other "non-sensitive" items from China.
Greer also mentioned that the current talks did not cover a small amount of high-quality, US-made chips that require licenses.
Last April, the US increased import tariffs on Chinese goods in several stages, raising them to up to 145%. In response, China imposed counter-tariffs of up to 125% and restricted exports of certain materials.
The two sides later agreed to several 90-day suspensions of new tariffs before Trump and Xi reached a broader trade agreement in South Korea last October. The deal was set to expire in November.
How China outsmarted Europe and the US on rare earths
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NJ0ySkip next section Xi wraps up US visit with tea and trip to National Archives09/25/2026September 25, 2026Xi wraps up US visit with tea and trip to National Archives
Dmytro HubenkoOn the final day of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the US, he and President Donald Trump, along with their spouses, are back at the White House for a tea session.
Then, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are kept.
After the tour, Xi is expected to leave Washington.
On Thursday, Trump and Xi met for talks at the White House, followed by a state dinner later in the day.
However, DW's analysis shows that little progress was made at the summit on key issues of US-Chinese relations, such as trade tensions and AI regulation.
Trump-Xi summit: Results or just symbolism?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NIs4Skip next section What you need to know about Xi's meeting with Trump in Washington so far09/25/2026September 25, 2026What you need to know about Xi's meeting with Trump in Washington so far
US President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out the red carpet for China's Xi Jinping on the Chinese president's first state visit to Washington in over a decade.
Ahead of the meeting, Xi said the US and China "should be partners rather than rivals," while Trump hailed his "truly great friendship" with the Chinese president. However, no breakthrough was expected in the trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
The talks centered on the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, according to a statement by Beijing. The US has not provided details about the meeting.
After the talks, Xi attended a lavish state dinner with Trump and US tech executives, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Tesla's Elon Musk.
Trump described the event as the "hottest ticket in town" and said the "entire tech world" and "entire banking world and a lot more" would attend.
On Friday, Xi is scheduled to visit the National Archives, where the US Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are held.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFKzSkip next section Protesters gather in downtown Washington to protest Xi's visit09/25/2026September 25, 2026Protesters gather in downtown Washington to protest Xi's visit
A few hundred protesters gathered near the White House to rally against Xi Jinping's visit to the US.
Protesters highlighted a number of issues, from calls for religious freedom and autonomy in Tibet, Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region to demands that China refrain from interfering in Taiwan.
Protesters gathered in Lafayette Park, north of the White House, while other groups gathered outside the Chinese embassy. Pro-Xi rallies were also held in Washington.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFFzSkip next section Trump says he and Xi have 'never gotten along better' at dinner toast09/25/2026September 25, 2026Trump says he and Xi have 'never gotten along better' at dinner toast
Rana TahaUS President Donald Trump continued to heap praise on his guest, Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a White House state dinner on Thursday.
"President Xi and I both understand we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we've never gotten along better," Trump said during his toast, adding that "together, we can continue to build a relationship that promotes prosperity and security for future generations."
Xi noted in his own toast that "President Trump has pledged to make America great again" and that "China is committed to achieving great national rejuvenation."
"These two goals are both ambitious and can surely be mutually reinforcing," Xi said.
Earlier discussions between Xi and Trump touched on tensions over Taiwan, trade and artificial intelligence.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFEvSkip next section State dinner includes tech-heavy guest list, but Chinese CEOs are missing09/25/2026September 25, 2026State dinner includes tech-heavy guest list, but Chinese CEOs are missing
Rana TahaApart from the heads of state and their spouses, the list of invitees to the state dinner included a host of big tech names.
Industry titans including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, and Dell Technologies chairman and CEO Michael Dell were all in attendance.
If this sounds familiar, it's because a similar group of tech leaders also accompanied Trump on his state visit to China in May. Names such as Nvidia's Jensen Huang, former Apple CEO Tim Cook, and once again Musk, were hosted by the Chinese president at a state dinner in the Great Hall of the People.
But Chinese CEOs are conspicuously missing on the guest list this evening in Washington as bringing Chinese firms to the US may raise more questions than it answers, experts said.
The Associated Press reported that US and Chinese planners did discuss including notable Chinese companies, but that one obstacle was that the US side was slow to suggest protocols and what roles the Chinese CEOs would have in the state visit.
Just like on Thursday, despite the star-studded business attendance, few major deals were announced during Trump's visit to China.
Top US tech CEOs leave China with little to show
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5NFBESkip next section IN PICTURES: Trump hosts Xi at black-tie state dinner09/25/2026September 25, 2026IN PICTURES: Trump hosts Xi at black-tie state dinner
Rana TahaWhat's on the menu at Trump's state dinner for Xi?
Zac CrellinAttention has now turned to the state dinner, a lighter-hearted event where everything from meal choices to seating arrangements will nevertheless be scrutinized for potential diplomatic intel.
"Everyone wants to be there," Trump said at the UN General Assembly. "It's the hottest ticket in town."
To start, the leaders and guests will dine on yellow squash veloute with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, crispy pancetta and drizzled scallion oil.
The main course will be sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and a sauce verte.
For dessert, the guests will be treated to vanilla cremeux with sour cherry confit and walnut frangipane, as well as ice cream with honey from the White House bee hives.
The guest list includes Silicon Valley titans like Apple's Tim Cook, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Tesla's Elon Musk and Nvidia's Jensen Huang.
"I would say you have the entire tech world, the entire banking world and a lot more," Trump told reporters earlier in the week.
https://p.dw.com/p/5NEpAShow more postsPoliticsUnited States of America