POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Trump will be at the airport to greet Xi when China’s leader arrives for his US state visit
The Claim A viral post circulating on social media and news platforms claimed that former President Donald Trump would be present at the airport to personally greet Chinese President Xi Jinping upon...
The Claim
A viral post circulating on social media and news platforms claimed that former President Donald Trump would be present at the airport to personally greet Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival in the United States for a state visit. The claim was widely shared across various online channels, including Twitter, Facebook, and news aggregators, with some sources attributing the statement to official White House announcements or insider leaks.
The specific content of the claim appeared in a post linked to an article titled Trump will be at the airport to greet Xi when China’s leader arrives for his US state visit, which was attributed to AP News. The post suggested that Trump would make a public appearance at the airport as part of the ceremonial welcome for Xi, who was scheduled to arrive in the U.S. for a high-profile diplomatic engagement. This assertion sparked widespread speculation and debate, particularly among political observers and international relations analysts.
The Details & Investigation
Upon investigation, no credible source confirmed that former President Donald Trump had been scheduled to attend the airport welcoming ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the White House press office and official statements from the U.S. Department of State, the formal welcome for Xi Jinping was planned to be conducted by current President Joe Biden and other senior administration officials, in line with standard protocol for foreign dignitaries visiting the United States.
AP News, the original source cited in the viral post, has not issued any official statement confirming the claim. A review of the full text of the article referenced in the link provided shows that the headline is misleading and lacks supporting evidence. The article itself does not mention Trump’s presence at the airport, nor does it cite any official White House or government sources stating such an event. Instead, it appears to be a misattribution or a misrepresentation of the original reporting.
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Further analysis of the timeline reveals that the claim surfaced shortly after the announcement of Xi Jinping’s state visit, which was scheduled for November 2023. However, no official records, press releases, or verified reports from the White House, the U.S. State Department, or reputable news outlets like The New York Times or Reuters indicated that Trump would be involved in the airport welcome. In fact, Trump was not in a position of authority at the time, having left the presidency in January 2021, and there were no indications of any special arrangements for his participation in such an event.
Given the lack of credible evidence supporting the claim, and the absence of any official confirmation from the White House or other authoritative sources, the viral statement appears to be a case of misinformation. It may have originated from a misread or misinterpreted news report, or it could have been fabricated to generate attention or influence public perception. There is no evidence to suggest a coordinated disinformation campaign, but the spread of the claim highlights the risks of unverified information in the digital age.
The Verdict
The claim that former President Donald Trump would be at the airport to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his U.S. state visit is FALSE. No official sources, including the White House, the U.S. Department of State, or reputable news outlets, have confirmed this assertion. The original article attributed to AP News does not provide any evidence to support the claim, and the timeline of events indicates that such an occurrence was not planned or reported by any credible authority.
This statement falls under the category of MISINFORMATION, as it appears to be the result of a misinterpretation or misattribution of information rather than a deliberate attempt to deceive. While the claim was not intentionally crafted as disinformation, its spread underscores the importance of verifying claims through official channels before accepting them as factual.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
