President Trump welcomed Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews for the Chinese leader's state visit to Washington D.C. Wednesday evening.
Why it matters: U.S. presidents typically receive visiting foreign leaders at the White House, making Trump's airport welcome an unusual diplomatic gesture.
The latest: Trump met Xi at the foot of the stairs after the Chinese leader's jet landed at Joint Base Andrews, the U.S. military base 13 miles southeast of the White House in Maryland.
Zoom out: It's much more common for U.S. presidents to greet visiting leaders at the White House.
- In February 2025, Trump welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky at the West Wing entrance to kick off the Ukrainian leader's tense visit.
- In April of this year, King Charles III was received at the White House's South Portico.
The big picture: Presidents in recent decades have occasionally greeted visiting popes at D.C.-area airports, but airport welcomes for other foreign leaders have largely fallen out of use.
- President John F. Kennedy personally welcomed several foreign leaders at Washington-area airports in 1962, including Ivory Coast President Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
- More recently, President George W. Bush greeted Pope Benedict XVI at Andrews in 2008, and President Obama greeted Pope Francis there in 2015.
What they're saying: "President Xi hosted President Trump in China for a historic summit this summer, and President Trump is reciprocating his hospitality by welcoming the Chinese delegation for a reciprocal visit this week," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Axios.
- "The President will forge relationships with anyone in order to advance our national interests and make good deals for the American people."
The bottom line: Trump's tarmac greeting revived a presidential practice that has become uncommon outside visits by popes.
