WASHINGTON, Mar 26 (V7N) – US President Donald Trump has officially postponed his highly anticipated state visit to China, originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2, due to the intensifying military campaign in Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday that the summit has been rescheduled for May 14 and 15, 2026. During the two-day visit, President Trump is expected to hold high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first visit by a US President to the Chinese capital since Trump’s own trip in 2017.

The decision to delay the trip follows nearly four weeks of US-Israeli military operations against the Iranian regime. Press Secretary Leavitt emphasized that President Trump felt it was "very important" to remain in Washington to personally coordinate the war effort and monitor regional developments. She further noted that President Xi expressed an understanding of the situation and agreed to the request for postponement. When questioned by reporters, Leavitt denied that China had set any preconditions—such as a ceasefire in Iran—for rescheduling the meeting, though analysts suggest the delay may give both nations more time to navigate complex trade and security issues currently heightened by the Middle East crisis.

The upcoming May summit is being viewed as a "monumental event" by the White House, aimed at resetting strategic and trade ties between the world’s two largest economies. In a statement on Truth Social, President Trump confirmed the new dates and added that he and First Lady Melania Trump look forward to hosting President Xi and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, for a reciprocal visit to Washington later this year. Despite the diplomatic rescheduling, the White House maintained its firm stance on the Iran conflict, with Leavitt warning that "Operation Epic Fury" will continue unabated until military objectives are met.

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