U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday, marking their first meeting at the White House. This visit came amid a notable shift in the White House's public image, with a bloodied portrait of Trump from an assassination attempt displayed in a prominent location where a portrait of former President Barack Obama had previously hung. Chinese state media were granted access to the White House grounds, while many U.S. journalists were excluded due to Trump's ban on CNN, MS Now, and Politico. Michael McFaul, a former U.S. diplomat, criticized the situation as "wrong and embarrassing." China ranks 178th in Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index, placing it just above North Korea and Eritrea. In contrast, the U.S. ranks 64th. Trump's approach to foreign relations contrasts with that of previous U.S. presidents, who often aimed to encourage China to adopt more Western-style governance. Trump, however, has been seen as aligning U.S. policy more closely with China's model. Trump and his wife, Melania, traveled to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to greet Xi upon his arrival, a gesture that is rare for U.S. presidents welcoming foreign leaders. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, remarked that Trump often extends a "red carpet" to foreign leaders from authoritarian regimes. Trump praised Xi's appearance, calling him "strong, vibrant, and fit," and referred to his wife Peng Liyuan as "Madam Xi," a misnomer since she is more commonly known as "Madame Peng." Trump emphasized his "truly great friendship" with Xi and highlighted progress in trade relations. He mentioned discussions on security, technology, and artificial intelligence, which he called "super intelligence." Trump also referenced the Second World War, mentioning the Flying Tigers air corps that helped defend China against Japanese invasion and the adoption of the Chinese phrase "gung ho" by U.S. Marines. Xi Jinping spoke more substantially, stating he is ready to work with Trump to "steer the giant ship of the China-US relationship on a steady course toward the future." He announced plans to invite 100,000 young American students to study in China over the next five years and send two giant pandas to a zoo in Atlanta. Xi emphasized that China and the U.S. can "co-exist in peace" and that their competition "should be a healthy one." He acknowledged the potential for overcoming the "Thucydides trap," a reference to the historical risk of conflict between a rising power and an established power. The event included a military ceremony with a flyover at the Rose Garden, and Chinese flags were displayed alongside U.S. flags in the Oval Office. A marching band in Revolutionary War-era attire paraded in the Rose Garden. The event was not covered by usual cable news networks due to a boycott in solidarity with the banned outlets. Some of the banned reporters were later allowed back onto the White House campus after a judge ruled Trump's media restrictions unconstitutional.