{
  "id": 9426733,
  "title": "Trump greets Xi on tarmac in rare gesture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/trump-greets-xi-on-tarmac-in-rare-gesture",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-23T22:13:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Axios",
    "slug": "axios",
    "url": "https://www.axios.com/2026/09/23/trump-xi-china-state-visit-joint-base-andrews"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nWhite 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.",
  "summary": "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…",
  "key_points": [
    "President Trump greeted Xi Jinping on Joint Base Andrews tarmac, a rare diplomatic gesture.",
    "This practice, last seen with Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, is uncommon outside of special cases."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}