Trump-Xi Jinping Meeting: President Donald Trump confirmed that his postponed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping has been rescheduled and will take place in Beijing on May 14–15. The meeting was originally scheduled for next week but was delayed due to US military operations in Iran. This will mark Trump’s first visit to China in eight years.
Additionally, this will be the leaders’ first in-person talks since an October meeting in South Korea, where they agreed on a trade truce.
“My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,” President Trump said in a post on the social media platform Truth Social.
Reciprocal Visit in Washington, DC
Trump also confirmed that First Lady Melania Trump, along with US President, will host President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan in a reciprocal visit to Washington, DC, later this year.
“First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, DC, at a later date this year. Our representatives are finalising preparations for these historic visits,” he added.
Preparations for both engagements are currently being finalised by representatives from both nations.
President Trump emphasised the importance of the upcoming summit, noting his anticipation of “spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a monumental event.” The meetings are expected to underscore the significance of US–China relations at a time of heightened global attention.
China’s Response
However, China’s embassy stated it had no information to provide on the announcement. Beijing typically does not detail Xi Jinping’s schedule more than a few days in advance, according to Reuters.
Tariffs and Military Tensions
In February, the Supreme Court curtailed the US president’s power to impose tariffs, a potential source of leverage for Trump in negotiations with China, the US’s third-largest trading partner.
Later that month, a joint military operation with Israel against Iran introduced a new point of tension with Beijing, Tehran’s main oil buyer. The US and Israel launched major airstrikes on Iran starting February 28, 2026, under Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion. Aimed at regime change, the attacks have targeted military sites, officials like Supreme Leader Khamenei, and oil hubs like Kharg Island, driving oil prices up. As of March 26, 2026, the conflict has entered its fourth week.
