Overview
- Melania Trump did not travel with the president, with her office telling the South China Morning Post on Wednesday that she is “not traveling this time” and giving no reason.
- Eric and Lara Trump arrived in Beijing with the delegation after Wednesday’s landing and appeared again at Thursday’s welcome events with China’s leader, Xi Jinping.
- The delegation includes senior officials and business chiefs such as Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Larry Fink, Stephen Schwarzman and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, signaling a push on trade and purchase deals.
- Public reaction focused on optics, with critics asking why family members were on a state visit and questioning the absence of the first lady.
- Reporters note her lower profile in the second term and point to a contrast with 2017, when she joined China’s first lady for school visits, cultural events and a Great Wall tour.