Trump marvels at Chinese display of power as summit kicks off
Key takeaways
- BEIJING — An extraordinary display of power and precision along Tiananmen Square greeted President Trump in Beijing on Thursday, kicking off a two-day summit with particularly high stakes for the Americans.
- American flags waved as “The Star Spangled Banner” rang out on a smoggy day in the heart of the capital.
- “There are those who say it may be the biggest summit ever,” he said. “I have such respect for China, the job you’ve done.”
President Trump participates in a welcome ceremony with China’s President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday in Beijing. (Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press) By Michael Wilner Washington Bureau Chief Follow May 13, 2026 8:51 PM PT 3 4 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
BEIJING — An extraordinary display of power and precision along Tiananmen Square greeted President Trump in Beijing on Thursday, kicking off a two-day summit with particularly high stakes for the Americans.
Trump’s meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, began at the Great Hall of the People moments after a welcome ceremony that seemed to impress the president, featuring a Chinese military honor guard and a greeting from excited schoolchildren. American flags waved as “The Star Spangled Banner” rang out on a smoggy day in the heart of the capital.