Trump to visit China in mid-May after Iran war delay

By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, US POLITICAL REPORTER

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President Donald Trump will visit the Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May, he announced Wednesday after the original trip was scrapped over the Iran war. The original itinerary for March 31 to April 2 was canceled shortly after the US and Israel began striking Iran on February 28. 'My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China , President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,' Trump wrote on social media. The announcement indicates the postponement amounts to roughly six weeks.

President Donald Trump will visit the Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May, he announced Wednesday after the original trip was scrapped over the Iran war. The original itinerary for March 31 to April 2 was canceled shortly after the US and Israel began striking Iran on February 28. 'My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China , President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,' Trump wrote on social media. The announcement indicates the postponement amounts to roughly six weeks.

He also announced a subsequent visit from the Chinese President and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, to the US at an unknown date. 'First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year. Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits.' 'I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event,' Trump added. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that the rescheduled state visit did not indicate that the Iran war was coming to a close, but hinted that it could soon be over.

He also announced a subsequent visit from the Chinese President and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, to the US at an unknown date. 'First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year. Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits.' 'I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event,' Trump added. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that the rescheduled state visit did not indicate that the Iran war was coming to a close, but hinted that it could soon be over.

When pressed on whether the trip signifies the Iran war is winding down, she reiterated, 'We’ve always estimated approximately four to six weeks, so you could do the math on that.' She also said the Chinese President was helpful in rearranging the visit, and understood Trump's desire to stay in the US amid the war. 'President Xi understood that it's very important for the President to be here throughout these combat operations right now.' 'He understood, obviously, the request to postpone, and accepted it,' she added.

When pressed on whether the trip signifies the Iran war is winding down, she reiterated, 'We’ve always estimated approximately four to six weeks, so you could do the math on that.' She also said the Chinese President was helpful in rearranging the visit, and understood Trump's desire to stay in the US amid the war. 'President Xi understood that it's very important for the President to be here throughout these combat operations right now.' 'He understood, obviously, the request to postpone, and accepted it,' she added.

Trump has said the visit will serve as a reset for US-China relations amid the world's two largest economies' competition for global recognition and military dominance. The President has also called on China and US allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz due to the nation's reliance on oil and gas that transits the narrow chokepoint. 'Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships,' Trump wrote on social media on March 14.

Trump has said the visit will serve as a reset for US-China relations amid the world's two largest economies' competition for global recognition and military dominance. The President has also called on China and US allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz due to the nation's reliance on oil and gas that transits the narrow chokepoint. 'Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships,' Trump wrote on social media on March 14.

However, he later backtracked and said the US does not need any help in securing the Strait through which a quarter of the global oil and natural gas supplies flow. Trump and Xi previously met in October 2025 at a summit in South Korea. During his first term, the President hosted Xi at Mar-a-Lago in 2017, and the leaders also met later that year in Beijing. They also got face time at various G20 events in 2018 and 2019.

However, he later backtracked and said the US does not need any help in securing the Strait through which a quarter of the global oil and natural gas supplies flow. Trump and Xi previously met in October 2025 at a summit in South Korea. During his first term, the President hosted Xi at Mar-a-Lago in 2017, and the leaders also met later that year in Beijing. They also got face time at various G20 events in 2018 and 2019.

Karoline LeavittDonald TrumpXi Jinping

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