Ivanka Trump Attended Meeting With President Xi Jinping

The 44-year-old sat in the front row during the presidential meeting with the Chinese leader on Tuesday.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in International Relations

Ivanka Trump Attended Meeting With President Xi Jinping

Ivanka Trump joined a high-level meeting between the President of the United States Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. She occupied a front-row seat alongside others, including her daughter, Arabella Kushner, and JD Vance.

Why it matters

The appearance highlights the ongoing intersection of personal and diplomatic ties in the current administration. Arabella Kushner previously established a personal connection with Xi Jinping during a musical performance at Mar-a-Lago in 2017.

Ivanka Trump, 44, and Arabella Kushner, 15, were positioned in the front row of the meeting. This arrangement placed them closer to the proceedings than senior officials like Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, and Pete Hegseth.

The players

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States.

Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump is a businesswoman and the daughter of President Donald Trump.

Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping is the President of the People's Republic of China.

Arabella Kushner

Arabella Kushner is the 15-year-old daughter of Ivanka Trump.

JD Vance

JD Vance is a prominent political figure and current Vice President of the United States.

The details

President Donald Trump greeted Xi Jinping at an airport upon his arrival before the two held formal talks. The event concluded with the President praising the Chinese leader on Truth Social ahead of a scheduled state dinner.

Arabella Kushner performed for Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago in 2017.
Ivanka Trump posted about the Year of the Fire Horse in February 2026.
President Donald Trump met Xi Jinping at the airport on September 23, 2026.
The bilateral meeting took place on September 24, 2026.
A state dinner is scheduled to occur on September 24, 2026.

Political Context

This meeting follows a pattern of personal diplomatic engagement set by the 2017 Xi Jinping visit to Mar-a-Lago. Critics often argue that incorporating family members into formal state proceedings blurs the lines between private influence and official government policy.

This meeting signals a potential shift in U.S.-China diplomatic relations that could influence future trade policy and tariffs for American citizens. Residents should monitor upcoming announcements from the state dinner for potential regulatory or economic impacts.

The takeaway

The event highlights the continued importance of high-level face-to-face diplomacy between the U.S. and China. Citizens should watch for official outcomes from the state dinner to understand how these proceedings may alter national policy.