Trump's Landmark Visit to China Postponed Until May Amid Iran Conflict

Thu Mar 26 2026 12:46:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

US President Donald Trump confirms his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14-15, after deferring the trip due to the escalating war with Iran. This will be the first US presidential visit to China in nearly a decade, amidst rising geopolitical tensions.

Donald Trump has announced that his visit to China, previously scheduled for March 31, will now take place on May 14-15. The trip was postponed due to the ongoing war with Iran, which has heightened tensions in the geopolitical landscape. The meeting will mark the first time a US president has visited China in nearly ten years, and discussions are expected to address trade relations and ongoing conflicts between the two nations. Trump also plans to host Xi Jinping in Washington later this year, emphasizing the importance of ongoing diplomatic communications between the two powers.

US president Donald Trump says he will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping in China on 14-15 May, after delaying the landmark trip amid the US-Israel war with Iran.

This would be the first visit to China by a US president in nearly 10 years.

Trump is also set to host Xi in Washington DC later this year, and officials are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits, he wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the dates of Trump's visit, telling reporters that President Xi had understood and accepted the request to postpone the trip.

President Xi understood that it's very important for the president to be here throughout these combat operations right now, Leavitt said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

Beijing has not confirmed the dates listed by Trump - though it does not typically reveal Xi's schedule so far in advance.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Thursday that both sides are maintaining communication regarding President Trump's visit to China and emphasized the significance of leader-level diplomacy.

Trump's trip, originally slated for 31 March, was delayed after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran last month, leading to escalated conflicts in the region.

In the wake of these strikes, Iran retaliated against US-allied states and closed the key Strait of Hormuz, causing a global fuel crisis.

Trump has urged US allies to assist in reopening the strait and has warned Iran about potential attacks on its energy infrastructure if access is not restored.

As for the timeline of the Iran conflict, Leavitt indicated they had anticipated it would last four to six weeks, allowing for the possibility of a resolution by the time Trump visits China.

The last US presidential visit to China occurred in November 2017, marking a significant gap in direct high-level interactions.

Amid ongoing tensions, Chinese state media has called for more engagements between US and Chinese officials, suggesting that a lack of exchanges is abnormal.

History shows that cooperation between the two nations is mutually beneficial, while confrontation can lead to loss for both sides.