Trump criticized Obama’s state dinner for Xi before holding his own

President Donald Trump gave Chinese President Xi Jinping an elaborate welcome this week, complete with a military band, children presenting flowers, a cannon salute and a flyover by two B1 bombers when Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, landed at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, followed by a formal dinner Thursday during Xi's three-day state visit. The reception contrasts with years of Trump mocking similar gestures under Barack Obama. At a 2016 rally he argued state visits should be scrapped in favor of a working meal, and on Fox News in 2015 he said he'd rather hand Xi a McDonald's hamburger than a dinner, accusing China of draining American jobs and money. He also criticized Obama in 2012 for giving then-Vice President Xi a full honor ceremony at the Pentagon, and slammed a 2011 dinner for then-President Hu Jintao, arguing a country "screwing" the U.S. didn't deserve such treatment, according to The Hill.

Xi's visit drew bipartisan criticism. Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told colleagues Tuesday night that Trump should remember he was hosting an authoritarian leader whose military targets the United States, even while pursuing trade and AI talks. Separately, Democratic senators argued that Americans facing rising costs were watching Trump extend red-carpet treatment and private dinners benefiting wealthy allies. Trump called the visit highly productive Friday, citing major progress for both countries. He received a similar airport welcome in Beijing earlier this year, though from Vice President Han Zheng rather than Xi.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Hill’s reporting. Read the full story at The Hill →