Sky News Today with Jayne Secker

Sky News Today reported that Donald Trump had welcomed China’s President Xi Jinping to the White House for a three-day summit, with heightened tensions over AI, Iran, trade and Taiwan. The broadcast said Xi’s first state visit to the US in over a decade was marked by positive public remarks: Xi spoke of responsibility to promote human progress and the need for candid, in-depth and sustained dialogue, while Trump said they would work for a better future and had forged a great friendship. The report noted a fraught diplomatic relationship despite the spectacle, citing issues including alleged Chinese intelligence help to Iran, a lack of follow-through on trade pledges, Taiwan warnings and little expected progress on AI.

The coverage was affected by a White House media dispute. The broadcast reported that media organisations had been banned from the White House, no pool camera footage was available, and Sky News was relying on stills from Associated Press and its own cameras. It said the matter had gone to court, a judge had said banned organisations should have their hard passes returned, but three organisations had not received them, prompting an emergency hearing and a request for the White House to provide written reasons. Media outlets were said to be standing in solidarity with the banned colleagues.

Later, the broadcast showed the Rose Garden, where a military review and flyover took place and the two presidents were accompanied by Melania Trump and Madame Peng Liyuan. Analysis from Henrietta Levin of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said China had confirmed the state visit unusually early, suggesting Xi was confident in engaging Trump directly, and that Trump had repeatedly praised Xi. The broadcast reported criticism from Republicans and Trump supporters about the red carpet, and Levin said the US might gain little policy substance, though a Board of Trade could see up to $30 billion in trade lines subject to lower tariffs; she added that China buys most Iranian oil, is not buying into American sanctions and has no interest in using leverage with Iran to help the US, seeing the Middle East war as a US creation and good PR for China.