Trump makes surprise Alaska stop en route to China summit with Xi

A last-minute refueling pause in Anchorage—and an unexpected passenger. Trump's high-stakes China visit takes shape amid Middle East tensions.

, and Administrator

2026 May 14 . 8:07 AM

1 min read

The image shows a man standing at a podium in front of a red wall, wearing a black blazer, white... — The image shows a man standing at a podium in front of a red wall, wearing a black blazer, white shirt, and purple tie. On the podium are two microphones and a bouquet of flowers, and to the right of the man is another person sitting in a chair. In the background, there is a red banner with the words "US-China Economic Relations" written on it, indicating that the man at the podium is Terry Branstad, the US Ambassador to China.

Trump makes surprise Alaska stop en route to China summit with Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump made a brief stop in Alaska on Tuesday while travelling to China. The refuelling pause at Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage came as part of a long-delayed diplomatic trip. Among the passengers joining the delegation was Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, who boarded at the last minute. The visit to China was originally set for March but was pushed back due to rising tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Now rescheduled, Trump’s itinerary includes high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday.

During the Alaskan stopover, Trump spoke to reporters about his plans. He confirmed a 'long conversation' with Xi regarding Iran, urging China to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Jensen Huang, whose name did not appear on the initial list of executives, arrived in Anchorage to join the delegation. An Nvidia spokesperson later clarified that Huang was attending at Trump’s personal invitation. His role, they stated, would be to support the administration’s goals during the summit.

The presidential aircraft refuelled in Alaska before continuing its journey. Trump’s meetings with Xi will focus on Iran, with the U.S. seeking China’s influence to ease regional tensions. Huang’s unexpected presence adds a corporate dimension to the diplomatic discussions.