President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, delaying a previously scheduled trip as the war in Iran continues. The meeting was originally planned for March 31 to April 2.
Trump-Xi Meeting Rescheduled Amid Iran War
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the new dates on Wednesday, adding that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump expect to host Xi in Washington, D.C., later this year.
Leavitt stated that President Xi understood the importance of Trump remaining in the U.S. during ongoing combat operations and accepted the request to postpone the meeting.
Fighting in Iran has continued for nearly one month, despite repeated White House assurances of impending victory. Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane for petrol, has disrupted the global economy, including China, which purchased over 80 percent of Iranian oil shipments in 2025 – approximately 1.38 million barrels per day.
China has called for an end to the war, while Trump has requested Chinese assistance in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. However, Beijing has so far declined to participate, citing concerns about the tense situation in the region and its impact on international trade and stability.
The Trump administration indicated Wednesday that joint operations with Israel against Iran were progressing as planned, stating they were “meeting our goals of Operation Epic Fury expeditiously.” When pressed for a timeline to end combat operations, Leavitt estimated a timeframe of “approximately four to six weeks.”
Statements regarding the war’s timeline and purpose from Trump and his allies have often been inconsistent. A recent Pew Research Center poll revealed that 59 percent of Americans believe Trump’s decision to use military force against Iran was the wrong choice, and 54 percent anticipate the war lasting at least six more months.
Further details regarding the upcoming talks between Trump and Xi were not provided by Leavitt, but trade tensions between the two countries are expected to be a key topic. Trump has imposed steep tariffs on China to bolster U.S. industry, but his ability to do so has been challenged following a February Supreme Court ruling that invalidated tariffs invoked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The administration has since implemented a flat 10 percent tariff based on different authority.
Analysts suggest the war in Iran could benefit China by straining U.S. military resources and decreasing its capacity in Asia. Trump last visited China in 2017, and he briefly met with Xi on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in South Korea in October.
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