Xi holds the cards
Trump has arrived in Beijing. Here is what is confirmed as of this morning.
The Arrival — Today, May 13
Trump arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport this morning for a three day state visit running through May 15. Actual substantive talks with Xi Jinping begin Thursday morning Beijing time. Wikipedia
Who Came With Him
Trump brought a notable delegation of business leaders including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang — who joined the trip at the last minute boarding in Anchorage, Alaska. Eric Trump and his wife Lara were also aboard Air Force One. Scott Berkun
The business delegation signals that trade and technology access are at least as central to this visit as the Iran situation.
The Agenda — Three Tracks
The summit will address the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz, trade imbalances, and the Taiwan situation, with plans to establish new bilateral boards for economic and AI oversight. Minnesota Historical Society
The Contradictory Iran Messaging
This is worth noting carefully. Before departing, Trump sent conflicting signals about Iran's role in the talks:
Trump told reporters "I don't think we need any help with Iran" and that the US would win "one way or the other." History Cooperative
Yet simultaneously officials confirmed Iran would be discussed, and Trump said before leaving "we have a lot of things to discuss" — while adding "I wouldn't say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control." Scott Berkun
That contradiction — Iran won't be discussed / Iran will be discussed / Iran is under control / ceasefire is on life support — reflects the same pattern we noted earlier today.
The Chinese Street View
Beijing residents CNN spoke to voiced little appetite for China becoming more involved in ending the Iran war. One resident named Liu said simply: "If they want to fight, that's their business, it has nothing to do with us." Scott Berkun
One Significant Pre-Visit Achievement
Before the summit, Defense Secretary Hegseth announced Beijing had provided high-level assurances it would not send weapons to Iran — explicitly ruling out surface-to-air missile transfers to the Iranian military. Hegseth attributed this to the Trump-Xi relationship. TMZ
That is a concrete, documented diplomatic outcome worth acknowledging straightforwardly.
What To Watch For
The actual meetings begin Thursday Beijing time — Wednesday evening US Eastern time. The substantive outcomes on trade, Iran, and Taiwan will become clearer then. The business delegation's presence suggests trade deals and technology access may produce the most concrete announcements, while Iran and Taiwan remain more uncertain.
Here is what the record shows on how Trump was received.
The Official Reception — Carefully Calibrated
Trump received a red carpet welcome at Beijing Capital International Airport — military honor guard, band, and 300 children waving American and Chinese flags in unison. He was greeted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng alongside diplomatic officials. TheWrap
However analysts noted the reception, while warm and designed to flatter, was deliberately less elaborate than the unprecedented "state visit plus" Xi extended to Trump in 2017 — which included a private tour of the Forbidden City and a performance at a royal theater not used for a century. One former senior US diplomat said the schedule had been "compressed to basically one day and stripped down to the basics" — reflecting what analysts called "greater Chinese confidence in their position and greater skepticism of Trump." Washington Examiner
The Chinese Public — Wary and Weary
Beijing residents CNN spoke to voiced little enthusiasm. Several said they believed Trump was arriving from a weakened position. One programmer named Li said: "He's in a pretty difficult situation right now, with the war in Iran. So I think he's coming here to gain some leverage." Another resident described how American chip export controls had damaged his business and left "lasting scars." The broader public mood reflected frustration with Washington, exhaustion with confrontation, and preference for neutrality. Deadline
The Tactical Reality
Some US officials expressed concern that Trump was "walking into a meeting where Xi holds the cards" — given that China is Iran's largest oil customer, Iran's foreign minister had visited Beijing just days before, and the Strait of Hormuz closure affects Chinese energy supply more directly than almost any other country. Prismnews
The substantive meetings begin Thursday Beijing time. The reception tells part of the story — warm enough to flatter, restrained enough to signal leverage.