WASHINGTON D.C May 12, 2026 — President Donald Trump on Tuesday described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a longtime personal friend with whom the United States “gets along,” offering an upbeat preview of his high-stakes state visit to Beijing that begins this week.
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden before departing for China, Trump said: “He’s been a friend of mine. He’s been somebody that we get along with… this is going to be a very exciting trip. A lot of good things are going to happen.”
The remarks were amplified by the official White House Rapid Response account (@RapidResponse47), which posted video of the comments shortly before Trump boarded Air Force One. The clip shows the president addressing reporters amid blooming roses, emphasizing optimism about U.S.-China relations.
Trump’s trip — scheduled for May 12-15, with formal meetings on May 13-15 — marks the first state visit by a sitting U.S. president to China in nearly a decade. It comes at a delicate moment for the world’s two largest economies, strained by ongoing trade tensions, technology competition, and the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Key agenda items are expected to include:
- Trade and tariffs: Efforts to stabilize economic ties and potentially expand U.S. agricultural and energy exports.
- Critical minerals and rare earths: Discussions on extending or expanding a existing deal that underpins advanced manufacturing and defense supply chains.
- Artificial intelligence and technology: Cooperation or guardrails on AI leadership.
- Taiwan and regional security: Managing flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific.
- Iran and the Strait of Hormuz: U.S. hopes that Beijing will use its influence to help ease the ongoing Middle East crisis and reopen key shipping lanes disrupted by the conflict.
Trump is traveling with a large delegation of American CEOs, including leaders from tech, finance, and aerospace sectors such as Elon Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Tim Cook (Apple), and Larry Fink (BlackRock), signaling strong corporate interest in sealing new deals.
Chinese officials confirmed the visit on Monday at the invitation of President Xi. The itinerary includes bilateral meetings, a tour of the historic Temple of Heaven, and a state banquet. Both sides have framed the summit as an opportunity to stabilize ties rather than achieve sweeping breakthroughs.
Analysts note the visit was originally planned for earlier this year but postponed due to the Iran conflict. Despite public warmth from Trump, expectations in Washington and Beijing remain modest, with officials stressing the importance of “managing differences” on issues like Taiwan and technology restrictions.
The summit comes as Trump has repeatedly highlighted his past rapport with Xi, dating back to his first term. Beijing, meanwhile, appears eager to project stability and position China as a steady global player amid U.S. focus on multiple international crises.
Further updates are expected as Trump arrives in Beijing and the leaders begin formal talks.
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