US foreign policy Trump-Xi live updates: leaders of US and China to talk AI and trade in major Washington meeting Trump wants China to use its influence with Iran, while Xi seeks a halt to US arms sales to Taiwan LIVE Updated 9m ago Guardian staff Thu 24 Sep 2026 14.41 BSTFirst published on Thu 24 Sep 2026 14.30 BST Share Key events 9m ago Ahead of talks with Xi, Trump points to AI as major subject 13m ago What’s on the agenda for the Trump-Xi summit, and what won’t they discuss?
20m ago Trump and Xi to talk AI and trade in major Washington meeting Donald Trump reacts after a B1 bomber flew past during the national anthems while he greeted Xi Jinping in Maryland on 23 September.
The US and Chinese leaders are tackling issues like trade irritants, artificial intelligence safeguards and the war in Iran.
Trump wants China to use its influence with Iran, while Xi seeks a halt to US arms sales to Taiwan.
A fragile trade truce had been set to expire in November, but the two countries agreed Wednesday to extend it for two months.
This is Xi’s first state visit to the US in more than a decade.
Stick with us as we bring you the latest lines.
Key events 9m ago Ahead of talks with Xi, Trump points to AI as major subject 13m ago What’s on the agenda for the Trump-Xi summit, and what won’t they discuss?
20m ago Trump and Xi to talk AI and trade in major Washington meeting President Trump teased in a social media post this morning that artificial intelligence would be a major part of his talks today with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his state visit to Washington.
He also suggested that he would avoid entertaining any kind of agreement between the two nations limiting AI development.
“A big day with President Xi of China,” Trump wrote in the post to his personal social media platform.
“Super Intelligence (SI) will be a big topic of discussion, but I want to leave it exactly where it is.
That is China’s position also.
Our guardrail is the DOJ!
President DJT.” (Super intelligence is the term Trump has been pushing to refer to artificial intelligence.
He pitched the language earlier this week in a tangent during his speech to the world leaders at the United Nations.
It’s unclear at this point if anybody is going to take him up on it.) After an unusually warm red carpet welcome ceremony on the tarmac yesterday, Trump is scheduled to receive Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the White House South Portico.
The pair will deliver remarks, exchange gifts, and watch a military review before a busy day of talks and diplomatic pageantry.
The leaders of the world’s two superpowers are meeting in the US on Thursday for Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the US in more than a decade.
The last time the Chinese president was hosted in Washington (by Barack Obama in 2015), the issues on the agenda included cybercrime, technology, the climate crisis and human rights.
The star of the day was Ne-Yo, who serenaded Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, with Peng reportedly singing along at the state dinner.
This time, Xi is meeting Donald Trump, who has overhauled the world order and recalibrated the US-China relationship.
Trump is contending with a China that is in a much stronger position than it was 10 years ago.
Click the link below for five things to look out for at the US-China summit.
What’s on the agenda for the Trump-Xi summit, and what won’t they discuss?
