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Trump Tours Communist Seat of Power as Beijing Summit Concludes

President Trump wraps up high-stakes visit to China with a rare look inside the heavily guarded Zhongnanhai compound.

Foreign PolicyPublished May 15, 2026 at 9:17 AMProcessed May 15, 2026 at 10:18 AM
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping tour Zhongnanhai Garden on May 15, 2026 in Beijing, China.

President Trump’s visit to Beijing culminated in a rare tour of Zhongnanhai, the exclusive, 14th-century compound that serves as the command center for China’s Communist leadership.

While the visit was marked by the expected diplomatic optics, the substance of the trip focused on the administration's push to leverage China’s economic ties to Iran and correct the trade imbalance between the two superpowers.

Trump, who described his visit as 'incredible,' utilized the trip to pressure Beijing to use its status as Iran’s largest trade partner to force Tehran toward the negotiating table and ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open.

Despite the pageantry of the tour, the administration remains focused on concrete results, with Trump highlighting agreements for China to purchase American oil, Boeing jets, and agricultural products aimed at bringing jobs back to the United States.

While Beijing has been characteristically vague regarding the specifics of these deals, the President’s visit signals a continued effort to hold the Chinese government accountable for its trade practices and its role in global stability.

With a follow-up summit already scheduled for the White House, the administration continues to prioritize American economic interests and national security over the empty rhetoric often favored by international bodies.

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