The ‘striking’ difference in how Trump and Xi used their invisible summit

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping wrapped up a state visit filled with grand displays and grand gestures, yet yielded little in the way of tangible progress. During their visit, the two leaders toured the National Archives, where they gazed upon the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, underscoring the summit's emphasis on ceremony over substance.

While no major policy announcements were made regarding pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, Taiwan, or trade, the visit did see the extension of a tariff truce between the world's two largest economies for two months. The only other notable outcome was the arrival of two Chinese pandas at a U.S. zoo. Both leaders affirmed that the summit had helped ease tensions between their nations on a range of issues.

Trump declared the meeting a "one of Friendship, Strength, and Success," stating, "We've made great strides, very positive for both countries." He also highlighted the strategic stability agreement between the two nations, emphasizing respect, fairness, and reciprocity. The leaders confirmed their intention to meet again at the upcoming international summits in China and the United States.

On the final day of Xi's trip, Trump and his wife Melania escorted the Chinese president and his wife to the National Archives, where they inspected the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Trump noted the contrast in the historical periods represented by the two documents, with the U.S. Constitution dating back 250 years and China's ancient history extending 6,000 years.

Trump confirmed that the two leaders had discussed the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, which has been raging for seven months, though he expressed optimism about potential progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane. The visit came amid Trump's ongoing controversy over his treatment of the press and his mocking of President Joe Biden, the democratically elected predecessor of the U.S. leader.