WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the White House this week for an official state visit, including a military arrival ceremony, state dinner and cultural events in Washington.
Xi and Peng are set to arrive at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, where Trump will greet the Chinese leader and first lady ahead of Thursday’s White House events.
The formal State Arrival Ceremony on Thursday morning will span the South Lawn, State Floor and Rose Garden, with 479 military personnel representing each branch of the U.S. armed forces, according to the White House.
The program will include a full honor cordon along the South Drive, displays of U.S. and Chinese flags, a fanfare by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and performances by military ceremonial units.
BEIJING, CHINA – MAY 14: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, 2026 in Beijing, China. President Trump is meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing to address the Iran conflict, trade imbalances, and the Taiwan situation while establishing new bilateral boards for economic and AI oversight. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band will perform the national anthems of China and the United States before Trump and Xi deliver remarks. The event is also scheduled to include a presidential salute, military review and demonstrations by the Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
A B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22 Raptors are expected to conduct a flyover to close the ceremony.
Following the arrival event, Melania Trump and Peng will visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, where they will view works highlighting artistic achievement and cultural exchange between the United States and China.
Trump and the first lady will host Xi and Peng for a state dinner in the White House East Room on Thursday evening. The White House said further details about the dinner are expected Wednesday.
The visit will conclude Friday with tea in the White House Red Room before the two couples travel to the National Archives. They are scheduled to view historical records and documents related to the U.S.-China relationship before departing.
The White House said the visit marks Xi and Peng’s first return to the White House in more than a decade.