President Donald Trump is putting on the dog for Xi Jinping, lavishing the Chinese president with a big White House welcome and the royal treatment. During a tour of the White House Thursday, Trump showed Xi the presidential photo gallery and joked about one of his most hated political rivals: P resident Joe Biden. When Trump installed the “Presidential Walk of Fame” gallery of images of previous U.S. presidents after retaking office in 2025, he replaced a picture of Biden with one of an autopen. The top Chinese official laughed as Trump tapped him on the arm and explained what the picture meant. U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak during a state dinner in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Social media had a field day pointing out why the joke was really on Trump. “Xi’s laughing at him, not with him,” a Threads user astutely observed. This angry commenter said only, “Totally a disgrace to U.S.” ‘Wait a Minute!’: Trump’s Bizarre Photo with Xi Sparks a Firestorm After Fans Zoom In on the Woman Behind Him — Then the Original Photo Surfaces Another pointed out, “China laughing at the clowns.” This poster stated the truth: “He is laughing at the childish behavior of Trump.” Amid the pomp and circumstance of Xi’s visit, his first to Washington in 11 years, Trump’s friendliness with the communist dictator was on full display. Yet the president showed an immense show of force, according to the White House’s itinerary for Xi’s visit. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived at Joint Base Andrews Wednesday, Sept. 23, where Trump met them on the tarmac. Then, on Thursday, Trump hosted a state arrival ceremony at the White House on the South Lawn, which drew almost 500 military personnel from all branches of the U.S. armed forces. The event also included military honors, national anthems, remarks by Trump and Xi, a military review and a flyover by a B-2 Spirit bomber and four F-22 Raptors, according to Well News. Later in the White House’s bedecked Grand Foyer, Trump talked about the two countries’ “common interest” and his “truly great friendship” with Xi, Roll Call reported. “The decisions we make in these areas today can promote peace and prosperity for decades and decades to come,” Trump said. For his part, the Chinese head of state said both countries can benefit economically from a sound relationship through “mechanisms of cooperation” and learning to “co-exist in peace.” “China keeps its door wide open, welcomes American companies wanting to invest and do business there,” Xi insisted. “We hope Chinese companies are treated fairly here in the United States.” Xi went on to say, “Our interests are deeply intertwined, and there is vast room for cooperation.” The extravagant state visit comes as some Republicans have questioned the spectacle, Roll Call reported, and Democrats have voiced concerns over whether the visit will lead to improved relations and cooperation between the two world powers. The summit between the two rivals on Thursday comes amid an unpopular war of Trump’s own making on Iran and massive concerns over AI technology. The Trumps will host Xi and his wife for tea at the White House on Friday before the couple heads to the National Archives. The itinerary says the couple will look at records and documents on the history of U.S.-Chinese relations. View on Threads ‘Laughing at Him, Not with Him’: Trump Pulls China’s President Aside for a Joke He Clearly Thought Would Land, Then the Moment Takes a Brutal Turn ...read more read less