That’s What Xi Said: Trump’s China Summit

President Trump rolled out the red carpet—literally—for Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday, with military jets overhead, troops on display, and a personal tour of the White House renovations including the new helipad. Trump told reporters Xi "loves good granite," declared the two had "forged a friendship, a truly great friendship," and even took Xi onto Marine One. But behind the lavish display, the substance was thin: the two leaders spent just 90 minutes behind closed doors all day, and no concrete deliverables emerged on the thorniest issues dividing the world's two largest economies.

The Summit: All Show, No Deal

The state visit was designed as a demonstration of personal diplomacy rather than a negotiation session. Trump piled on praise, calling the relationship built on "mutual respect and the vital interests of our people." Xi, for his part, described the interests of China and the U.S. as "deeply intertwined" and acknowledged their competition. But the friendly tone masked deep tensions.