Trump Reschedules Xi Summit to May Amid Iran Conflict

President Donald Trump has rescheduled his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping for May 14 and 15 in Beijing, shortening the planned two-day visit from an original three-day itinerary set for late March. The delay stems from the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28 and has entered its fifth week, prompting Trump to prioritize operations from Washington.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the new dates during a briefing on Wednesday, stating that Xi had agreed to the postponement. "President Xi understood that it's very important for the president to be here throughout these combat operations right now," Leavitt said. Trump echoed the announcement in a post on Truth Social, describing Xi as the "highly respected president of China" and expressing anticipation for what he called a "monumental event." He also noted that preparations were underway for a reciprocal visit by Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to Washington later this year, hosted by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded cautiously on Thursday, confirming that the two sides were maintaining communication on...