President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to begin a three-day state visit. The arrival ceremony featured a 100-foot red carpet, a 21-person honor cordon, a cannon salute, and color guards. The summit is expected to focus on trade and the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, following a previous bilateral meeting between the two leaders in Beijing earlier this year.
The visit has drawn criticism from members of both parties in Congress. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday that the greeting was consistent with the president’s preference for powerful leaders and suggested it was a sign of weakness. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) stated in a Senate floor speech on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, that he would have advised against a "lavish welcome" for the Chinese leader.
Technology policy emerged as a central point of debate during the visit. Senator Warren urged the administration to cut off the supply of critical AI chip technology to China before beginning broader safety negotiations. In response, President Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday, September 24, 2026, that he intends to leave AI development "exactly where it is," stating this aligns with China's position and noting the Justice Department serves as a "guardrail."
Tensions between the White House and the Senate were further highlighted during a closed-door lunch on Wednesday. According to attendees, the president criticized Republican senators for their recent votes on war powers related to Iran and for failing to pass the SAVE America Act. During the meeting, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) reportedly told the president that the Iran conflict was not progressing as successfully as the administration had claimed. The lunch occurred shortly after the president announced he would not sign a bipartisan housing bill that had recently passed both chambers.
The disagreement over AI chip technology directly impacts the semiconductor industry and global tech markets. If a pause in development or a technology export ban occurs, as suggested by Senator Warren, it would alter the supply chains and research trajectories of U.S. firms competing in an industry worth billions of dollars. Conversely, the president's stated intent to maintain the status quo in AI development affects how federal agencies like the Justice Department will allocate resources to oversee the sector.
What happens next: The state visit continues through the end of the week, with further discussions on trade and AI scheduled. In Congress, Senate Republicans remain at an impasse with the White House over the SAVE America Act; Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has stated the votes do not currently exist to pass the bill despite presidential pressure to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster. Future court dates regarding White House media access for blocked outlets are also pending following recent legal filings.