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By Gabe Whisnant
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U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in May during his first visit to China in 8 1/2 years, a closely watched diplomatic trip that was postponed amid the ongoing war in Iran.
Trump had been scheduled to travel to China later this month but delayed the visit to remain in Washington as the conflict escalated. He will now visit Beijing on May 14 and 15, Trump said Wednesday in a post on Truth Social. He added that Xi would make a reciprocal visit to Washington later this year.
“Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits,” Trump wrote. “I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event.”
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China’s embassy in Washington told Reuters it had no information to provide about the announcement. Beijing typically does not publicly detail Xi’s schedule more than a few days in advance.
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Trip Comes Amid Strained Global Backdrop
The long‑planned China visit, and Washington’s broader effort to recalibrate relations in the Asia‑Pacific region, have repeatedly been overtaken by global events. In February, the Supreme Court sharply limited Trump’s authority to impose tariffs, reducing one of his key sources of leverage in trade negotiations with China, the United States’ third‑largest trading partner.
Later that month, Trump’s joint military operation with Israel against Iran introduced new tensions with Beijing, Tehran’s largest oil customer. The war has unsettled global energy markets and complicated diplomatic efforts with key U.S. allies and rivals alike.
Trump last traveled to China in November 2017, making the upcoming trip the first by a U.S. president in 8 1/2 years. The visit will also mark the first in‑person meeting between Trump and Xi since October, when the two leaders met in South Korea and agreed to a temporary trade truce.
Trade and Tensions on the Agenda
The two‑day visit is expected to blend the ceremonial pageantry that has become a hallmark of Trump’s overseas trips with direct, high‑stakes diplomacy. While the two sides could announce goodwill measures related to agricultural trade or airplane parts, officials on both sides acknowledge that deeper disputes will be harder to resolve.
Among the most contentious issues is Taiwan, where little progress is expected. Trump has significantly expanded U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during his second term, moves that have drawn sharp criticism from Beijing. China claims the democratically governed island as its own territory and has warned against what it sees as U.S. interference.
Iran War Looms Over Meeting
It remains unclear whether the war with Iran, which has shaken the global economy, will be resolved by the time Trump and Xi meet in Beijing. Trump has sought assistance from major oil‑consuming nations, including China, to counter Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy supplies.
Trump’s request has largely been rebuffed. China, which imported roughly 12 million barrels of oil per day during the first two months of 2026—the highest level in the world—has not publicly responded to his appeal.
Asked whether the conflict could wind down in time for the China trip, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that the administration has “always estimated approximately four to six weeks.”
“You could do the math on that,” she said.
Leavitt added that Trump and Xi had discussed rescheduling the visit and that the Chinese leader understood the decision.
“President Xi understood that it’s very important for the president to be here throughout these combat operations right now,” she said.
Updates: 3/25/26, 6:42 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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