Two B-1Bs passed over Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, when Xi arrived on September 23. The bombers appeared during the national anthem as the Presidential Salute Battery of the Army’s Old Guard conducted a 21-gun salute.
President Donald Trump personally greeted Xi planeside, an unusual feature of the arrival. A military honor guard also received the Chinese leader at the base.
The Air Force followed the B-1B appearance with a second formation over the White House a day later. A single B-2 Spirit flew with four F-22 Raptors to conclude a morning of military ceremonies for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
American strength 🇺🇸
President Trump, President Xi, First Lady Melania Trump, and Madame Peng Liyuan participate in a military review in the Rose Garden, featuring a B-2 flyover. pic.twitter.com/vGmAgQ2d47
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 24, 2026
The two formations brought strategic bombers and advanced fighters into the center of the official welcome. Together, the aircraft represented both long-range strike capacity and air-superiority capability.
The White House ceremony included a full military honor cordon along the South Drive and displays of American and Chinese flags. First Lady Melania Trump’s office had said 479 service members from every branch of the U.S. military would take part.
Performances involved the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. The B-2 and F-22 formation followed those military demonstrations.
Xi’s visit was his first state visit to the United States since 2015. Aircraft flyovers are common during state visits, but the use of strategic bombers is less routine.
Four F-35s recently flew over the White House during King Charles III’s state visit. A B-2 accompanied by four F-35s also appeared during an August 2025 meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine.
