APTOPIX Trump Xi
A military flyover is pictured as President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan watch a military review in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington.
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Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met on Thursday for important talks on the U.S.-China relationship. They are divided on issues like the Iran war and trade, but both leaders hope personal rapport can prevent conflict. Trump emphasized their friendship, while Xi stressed healthy competition. Xi warned against falling into the “Thucydides trap,” the theory that rising powers clash with established ones. China is resisting U.S. pressure on Iran, while Xi urges Trump to handle Taiwan carefully. They also discussed AI, agreeing it should remain under human control. Some analysts say the talks appeared to focus more on ceremony than substance.
President Donald Trump is hailing the friendship he’s forged with Xi Jinping during the Chinese leader's highly anticipated state visit. While Trump has many thorny issues to discuss with the president of America’s biggest economic rival, he focused Thursday on his long relationship with Xi. Trump is holding a state dinner for Xi with a tech industry-heavy guest list. Also, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s ban of three news outlets from the White House, and hours after the judge's order early Thursday, CNN, MS NOW and Politico had their access restored.
