Trump greets Xi on tarmac in rare gesture

President Trump made an unusual diplomatic move during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington D.C. on Wednesday evening. Typically, U.S. presidents receive foreign leaders at the White House upon their arrival, but Trump chose to greet Xi Jinping on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, a military base located 13 miles southeast of the capital. This gesture is far less common compared to the more customary White House reception.

The practice of greeting visiting leaders at D.C.-area airports for foreign dignitaries has largely been discontinued in recent decades, except for special cases such as the Pope. The last non-Pope to be welcomed this way was President John F. Kennedy, who personally greeted several foreign leaders at Washington-area airports in 1962. More recently, President George W. Bush greeted Pope Benedict XVI at Andrews in 2008, and President Obama welcomed Pope Francis there in 2015.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly explained that Trump is reciprocating Xi's hospitality following their historic summit in China this summer. According to Kelly, the President aims to forge relationships with anyone to advance national interests and secure favorable deals for the American people. In summary, Trump's tarmac greeting with Xi Jinping revived a presidential practice that has become uncommon, highlighting the significance of the Chinese leader's state visit to the United States.