One is an authoritarian who represses the media with a strong allergy to democratic elections. The other is head of the Chinese Communist party. Donald Trump welcomed the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to the White House on Thursday, setting the stage for a scene quite unlike anything the august old building has seen over more than two centuries.
On one wall, where an official portrait of Barack Obama once hung, was the dramatic image of a bloodied Trump with fist raised urging his supporters to “fight!” after a failed assassination attempt. And while Chinese state media had been welcomed onto the White House grounds, many US journalists had not, thanks to Trump’s ban on CNN, MS Now and Politico. Michael McFaul, a former US diplomat, described the vivid contrast as “wrong and embarrassing”.
That was hard to deny, given that China ranks 178th in Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index, ahead of only North Korea and Eritrea (the US, for the record, is down to 64th). But it also made perfect sense because, whereas past presidents sought to make China more like the US, Trump evidently aspires to make the US more like China. The deference was deafening.
On Wednesday night he and his wife, Melania, travelled to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to greet Xi off his plane – a schlep that US presidents rarely make for foreign leaders – and rolled out a literal red carpet for his strongman soulmate. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, observed on X: “If you’re a foreign authoritarian, Trump won’t just invite you to visit America, he’ll roll out the red carpet for you…” “I met President Xi at the plane (Airport!) yesterday and he looks strong, vibrant, and fit — Better than ever,” a gooey-eyed Trump gushed on his Truth Social patform. When the president wrote “Madam Xi”, referring to Xi’s wife Peng Liyuan, he should have said “Madame Peng”, which is how she is recognised.
Xi is such a star that he got two welcomes. On Thursday morning, there were more flags, more trumpet blasts, and another red carpet as the Trumps emerged from the White House south portico to greet Xi and Peng. Then it was on to the grand foyer for statements – with no reporter questions allowed, of course – before the two delegations, including Vice-President JD Vance and wife Usha, sitting in neat rows.
You can tell when he’s on his best behaviour because he (mostly) sticks to the teleprompter. The interpreter must have been relieved that he did not have to match Trump, weave for weave. Trump touted his “truly great friendship” with Xi and claimed the two countries had made strides on trade since his trip to China in May.
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