Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States on Wednesday for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. His arrival followed weeks of speculation about his health, which intensified after a visit to India for the BRICS summit in September. Mr. Xi, 73, was seen descending from the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews slowly, gripping the staircase's handrail and holding his wife, Peng Liyuan, by the hand. This cautious movement did not seem to ease concerns about his health, which had already been the subject of discussion following his trip to Kyrgyzstan in late August. At that time, similar behavior was observed, and state media edited videos to omit the details of his descent. Xie Wanjun, a leader of the China Democracy Party, claimed that Mr. Xi fainted during the BRICS summit and was rushed back to China for emergency care. He alleged that Ms. Peng supported him and "prevented him from falling," suggesting that the incident "clearly indicates the aftereffects of a stroke." Mr. Xie previously claimed that Mr. Xi suffered a severe stroke but refused treatment in Delhi. He added that the president was taken to Beijing's 301 Hospital, an elite military facility that serves top Communist Party officials. Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University, said that dismissing these rumors as mere speculation requires a "masterclass in Chinese history." He noted that in China, rumors can become powerful political tools. The Chinese government has not addressed the health concerns and maintains strict secrecy around Mr. Xi's medical background and personal habits. Some reports suggest he smoked in his youth, and a former CIA analyst, Dennis Wilder, claimed that Mr. Xi has a reputation for drinking and smoking regularly and has not been known to exercise frequently. Another area of uncertainty is what would happen if Mr. Xi were to step down as president. He has ruled China for over 13 years with strong authority, holding absolute power over the Communist Party and the military. His control is partly due to the lack of a clear successor. Unlike previous leaders, Mr. Xi has not publicly named a successor, and frequent purges of senior officials have left the leadership ranks thin. Mr. Xi’s own longevity is a concern, as shown when a hot microphone captured him and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussing the possibility of living forever during a 2025 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.