Despite the increasingly fraught relationship between the U.S. and China — due to Beijing’s support for Iran and allegations from President Donald Trump this summer that China meddled in U.S. elections — the White House is now preparing to roll out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping in three weeks.
The plans, according to four sources familiar with the matter, include a formal state dinner typically reserved for key U.S. diplomatic partners. Trump has hosted just one other state dinner in his second term, for Britain’s King Charles III.
The White House did not immediately respond to MS NOW’s request for comment.
As the White House prepares for this high-profile welcome, tensions between the U.S. and China persist. In July, Trump accused China of carrying out “the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in China’s illicit acquisition of 220 million U.S. voter files.”
China has also directly aided Iran’s war efforts by keeping it financed through oil purchases and reportedly supplying components for missiles and drones.
In August, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened an “economic onslaught” through high tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran, though he stopped short of directly targeting or mentioning China, which purchases more than 80% of Iran’s oil exports.
Trump previously suggested that he hoped to have the new helipad complete on the White House’s South Lawn by the time Xi visits on Sept. 24. “We might make it for President Xi,” Trump said about the timeline for the construction. “That would be nice but not imperative.”
Trump has sent mixed signals on China in his first 18 months back in office. One week after leveling accusations of election meddling at China during a primetime address to the nation, the president appeared to downplay its role, questioning whether it could actually use those voter files to manipulate the vote.
Asked in July whether he intended to hold China accountable, Trump told reporters, “Well, we’re going to talk to them about it. It took place a long time ago. I think China is maybe a little different today than it was then.” He added, “But look, they’re — they do things and we do things to them.”
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Vaughn Hillyard is a senior White House reporter for MS NOW.
Jake Traylor is a White House reporter for MS NOW.
