Trump Gets Off Plane in China with Surprise Guest Behind Him— China Is NOT Happy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Thursday for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip was conducted aboard Air Force One and included a delegation of prominent U.S. business executives. Among those traveling with the president were Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Apple CEO Tim Cook, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, Cargill CEO Brian Sikes, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. Fox News host Sean Hannity was also on the flight.
Jensen Huang joined the delegation as a last-minute addition during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. Trump confirmed Huang’s presence in a post on Truth Social, correcting earlier media reports and stating that Huang would remain on the aircraft unless otherwise directed. The president described the gathering as an “incredible gathering of the World’s Greatest Businessmen/women” and indicated that his first request to Xi would be to “open up” China to American businesses. He expressed confidence that the executives could help elevate the People’s Republic to an even higher level through their expertise.
The summit is expected to address several key issues, including trade relations, the situation regarding Taiwan, the ongoing conflict in Iran, and developments in artificial intelligence. Preparations for the meeting involved months of negotiations between officials from both countries. Trump first announced plans for the visit during a meeting with Xi at the Busan summit in South Korea on October 30. Beijing has indicated it will prioritize U.S. policy on Taiwan during discussions, while the U.S. side is expected to seek progress on trade imbalances and security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.
Air Force One landed at Beijing Capital International Airport at approximately 7:51 a.m. ET, which corresponded to Thursday morning local time in China. The aircraft taxied for about eight minutes before the doors opened for the official arrival ceremony. Trump deplaned at 8:08 a.m. ET and was greeted by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng, and Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu. Following Trump were his son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump, along with other members of the delegation. Elon Musk did not respond to questions upon arrival and proceeded directly to a waiting limousine.
The welcoming ceremony included approximately 300 Chinese youth, a military honor guard, and a military band. The children chanted “Welcome, welcome! Warm welcome!” in Chinese. The visit marks a significant diplomatic engagement between the two largest economies, with both sides aiming to address longstanding trade disputes and strategic concerns. Trump has emphasized the potential benefits of expanded market access for American companies in China.
The trip occurs against a backdrop of complex bilateral relations that have included tariffs, technology restrictions, and differing positions on regional security issues. U.S. officials have described the summit as an opportunity to achieve concrete outcomes that benefit American businesses and workers. Chinese officials have expressed hope for mutual respect and cooperation on global challenges. The presence of high-profile business leaders underscores the economic dimension of the discussions.
The delegation’s composition reflects the administration’s focus on leveraging private-sector expertise in diplomatic efforts. Observers note that the inclusion of executives from technology, finance, aerospace, and agriculture sectors highlights priorities in trade and investment. The summit is expected to produce statements on future cooperation, though specific agreements have not been detailed in advance. The visit is part of broader international engagement by the Trump administration, which has included summits in South Korea and other locations.
As the meetings proceed, both sides are anticipated to address immediate economic concerns as well as longer-term strategic issues. The outcome of the summit will be closely watched by markets and policymakers worldwide. Updates from the delegation and official statements are expected in the coming days as negotiations continue.
Hakeem Jeffries Panics - He Just Lost A WAVE of House Seats Intensifies
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a sharp public rebuke against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis following the governor's announcement of a special legislative session to redraw Florida’s congressional district boundaries, a strategic move expected to yield four additional seats for Republicans in the United States House of Representatives.
Governor DeSantis defended the mid-decade redistricting initiative by asserting that Florida was shortchanged in the 2020 Census relative to its explosive population growth over recent years. DeSantis emphasized that registered Republicans now hold a 1.5 million voter advantage across the Sunshine State, arguing that the existing district boundaries rely on unconstitutional racial classifications rather than geographic and demographic reality.
"The new map will more fairly reflect Florida’s current population makeup and fulfill our commitment to mid-decade adjustments."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated during his official announcement of the special session.
Representative Jeffries quickly pushed back against the plan, characterizing the proposed congressional map as a partisan overreach that could ultimately backfire on state Republicans during upcoming election cycles.
"It is a 'DeSantis Dummymander'. Florida Republicans pursuing this redistricting will end up in the exact same situation as Texas Republicans, whom I describe as being on the run. They are dummymandering their way into the minority before a single vote is cast."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared in response to the governor's redistricting strategy.
In a swift counter-response, Governor DeSantis dismissed the minority leader's warnings, inviting the New York Democrat to travel to Florida to campaign personally against the proposed boundary adjustments.
"I invite Leader Jeffries to campaign in Florida. I would be happy to host him at the governor’s mansion and take him fishing. Having Jeffries campaign across the state will only benefit Republicans because Florida voters will soundly reject the ideology being presented."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated during a subsequent media press conference.
The redistricting battle in Florida unfolds amidst a broader national struggle for control of the House of Representatives, where state-level map adjustments across the country could determine the congressional majority. The Supreme Court of the United States recently lifted a lower court injunction that had temporarily blocked a new congressional map in Texas, a decision that could potentially add five Republican seats to the lower chamber.
Conversely, California’s pending redistricting plans are projected to yield five additional seats for Democrats, while Virginia’s congressional map remains subject to ongoing legal challenges before the state Supreme Court over constitutional boundary concerns. As both major political parties adjust their national strategies, mid-decade redistricting initiatives in key states continue to reshape the legislative landscape ahead of the upcoming congressional elections.
49–50 VOTE — Lone Democrat Saves Trump From Senate Defeat
The Senate narrowly rejected another attempt Thursday to restrict President Donald Trump’s authority to continue U.S. military operations against Iran without explicit congressional authorization, as a small group of Republicans joined Democrats in challenging the administration’s handling of the conflict.
The Senate voted 49-50 against the war powers resolution, falling just short of adopting a measure that had previously cleared the House.
The resolution would have directed Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities involving Iran unless Congress specifically authorized continued military action through a declaration of war or an authorization for use of military force.
Four Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — joined Democrats in supporting the measure.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to oppose it, while Democratic Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland did not vote.
The 1973 War Powers Resolution was enacted after the Vietnam War in an effort to constrain presidents from maintaining prolonged military engagements without congressional authorization.
But multiple adminstrations since have claimed the act is an unconstitutional restraint on the president’s role as commander-in-chief.
Most Senate Republicans remained opposed to the measure, arguing that restricting the president while U.S. forces remain engaged against Iran could undermine American military operations and negotiating leverage.
The vote comes as the Iran war approaches its seventh month and as concerns about the conflict have increasingly spilled into the November midterm campaigns.
Rising gasoline and diesel prices have intensified the political debate, particularly in competitive congressional races.
Some Republican candidates who previously supported Trump’s handling of Iran have recently called for the conflict to end quickly.
Republican Senate candidates Mike Rogers in Michigan and Ashley Hinson in Iowa both called this week for a swift conclusion to the war, citing its effect on American energy prices and household costs. Hinson had previously voted multiple times against House efforts to restrict Trump’s war powers.
Thursday’s vote was the latest in a long series of congressional attempts to impose limits on the administration’s military campaign.
The Senate has considered 14 Iran-related war powers resolutions since the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran in February, according to reports.
Congressional critics of the war argue that the Constitution gives Congress, rather than the president, the authority to declare war and that months of sustained hostilities require explicit legislative approval.
The Pentagon has estimated the war has cost approximately $42 billion, according to Stars and Stripes. At least 19 American service members have been killed and more than 750 injured during the conflict, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said during Thursday’s debate.
Republicans supporting Trump have argued that the president possesses sufficient authority as commander in chief to conduct the military campaign and that congressional restrictions could interfere with efforts to force Iran into negotiations.
Trump has continued to publicly defend the war.
During his address to the United Nations General Assembly this week, the president argued that military action had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and called on other countries to increase economic pressure on Iran.
Trump also said he believes an agreement with Tehran remains possible, while warning that the United States could dramatically escalate military action if diplomacy fails.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Tehran remained open to a diplomatic resolution but would not negotiate under military threats.
Thursday’s Senate vote followed another significant congressional challenge to Trump’s Iran policy.
The House passed a similar war powers measure last week by a 220-204 vote, with seven Republicans joining Democrats. That vote represented the third time the House had voted to end U.S. participation in the Iran conflict.
