President Trump's Beijing Visit: A High-Profile Delegation Amid Business Scrutiny

President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a state visit that includes a meeting with President Xi Jinping, the first such trip by a sitting U.S. president since Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited China in 2018. The delegation blends cabinet officials, a business cohort, and Trump family members.

New York Times

Accompanying the president—Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—was a business contingent featuring CEOs and executives from Apple, BlackRock, Blackstone, Boeing, Citi, and Tesla. Eric Trump, head of the Trump Organization, traveled with his wife Lara Trump; film producer Brett Ratner also rode on Air Force One.

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The summit, beginning Thursday, will address trade, investment, and other bilateral issues. Eric Trump’s presence—while he leads a family firm that has pursued Chinese trademarks for hotels, bars and spas—alongside a corporate cohort raises concerns that diplomacy could be conflated with business interests. Critics note the Trump Organization’s China interest and its recent easing of self-imposed ethics rules as sources of perceived conflict.

New York Times

A Trump Organization spokeswoman said Eric Trump is “deeply proud of his father and the accomplishments of this term, and is attending in a personal capacity as a supportive son.” She added that Eric “does not have business ventures in China nor plans on doing business in China” and will not attend private meetings, instead standing alongside the president. No other officials commented.

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Observers compare the Trumps’ China trip to Vice President Joe Biden’s 2013 visit with his son Hunter, a comparison the president has used to accuse the Bidens of corruption, and argue that the inclusion of a family member who runs a business with prior Chinese interests and corporate entourage fuels criticism that the visit could serve private interests under the banner of state diplomacy.

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The Trump Organization asserts Eric Trump will not pursue business in China, but independent verification of his activities is absent. Sources do not confirm whether any private meetings between business leaders and Chinese officials are scheduled.

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• “In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization said that “Eric is deeply proud of his father and the accomplishments of this term, and is attending in a personal capacity as a supportive son.” — Trump Organization spokeswoman

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• “He does not have business ventures in China nor plans on doing business in China.” — Trump Organization spokeswoman

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• “Eric is deeply proud of his father and the accomplishments of this term, and is attending in a personal capacity as a supportive son. He does not have business ventures in China nor plans on doing business in China. He will not be participating in private meetings, but will instead stand alongside the President to mark this historic occasion.” — Trump Organization spokeswoman

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• “-Chinese relations, is set to begin on Thursday.” — New York Times

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President Trump and President Xi will meet Thursday to discuss trade, investment, and regional security, including the war in Iran. The talks, together with scrutiny of the delegation, will shape the next phase of U.S.–China relations and may spark debate over private business in diplomacy.

New York Times