Flattery and fanfare as Trump welcomed to China - but thorny issues remain

The leaders of the world's two superpowers were all smiles for the cameras during the US president's visit to Beijing.

During a state banquet in Beijing, former President Donald Trump expressed amazement at the high number of Chinese restaurants in the U.S., stating they outnumber the five largest fast food chains combined. Speaking after meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump praised the positive discussions and the warm hospitality he received, referencing historical U.S.-China ties and extending an invitation to Xi and his wife to visit the White House. The 79-year-old, known for his fast food preferences, particularly McDonald's, was served a banquet including lobster in tomato soup, crispy beef ribs, and Beijing roast duck. The event was notably more refined than the simpler Air Force One menu earlier in the week, which featured an unappetizing stir fry and fortune cookie. Trump’s preference for fast food, driven partly by fears of food tampering, has been highlighted by former aides and Cabinet members such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

During President Donald Trump's upcoming state visit to China from May 13 to 15, 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been notably excluded from the roster of accompanying business leaders—an unexpected move given his previous involvement in similar diplomatic missions. This decision stands in contrast to executives like Apple's Tim Cook and Tesla's Elon Musk, who are confirmed to be part of the delegation. Although Huang was previously praised by Trump and actively engaged in U.S. foreign visits, his exclusion likely reflects the strained dynamics surrounding U.S.-China tech relations, especially concerning AI chips. Nvidia once dominated the Chinese AI chip market, but U.S. export bans on advanced semiconductors, due to military concerns, led to a dramatic fall in market share. Despite a late 2025 U.S. approval allowing Nvidia to sell its H200 chips to China, no sales have occurred due to Chinese regulatory barriers and a broader push for domestic chip development. Analysts see Huang’s absence as a deliberate message underscoring the U.S.'s firm stance on restricting advanced AI chip exports to China amid ongoing technology tensions.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday evening for a state visit to China. At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump is visiting China from May 13 to 15. This is the first U.S. presidential visit to China in almost nine years and Trump's second since November 2017. The two leaders will have an in-depth exchange of views on major issues concerning bilateral relations and world peace and development, according to China's foreign ministry. Trump was welcomed by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng at the airport.