President Donald Trump has departed for China, where he faces a high-stakes meeting with Xi Jinping amid the Iran war.
While she joined him during his 2017 trip, First Lady Melania Trump isn’t traveling with the President this time.
But the Melania documentary director, Brett Ratner, is on the trip and will be scouting Rush Hour 4 filming locations while on the ground, the South China Morning Post first reported.
The President also brought along his son Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, who accidentally entered through the wrong doors of Marine One and were ushered back onto the South Lawn alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the official departure.
Rubio then let the Trumps enter the presidential helicopter first, before boarding himself.
On board Air Force One, Rubio was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer – as military conflicts and trade deals will be hot topics.
Trump is also bringing along some key aides, including Stephen Miller, Communications Director Steven Cheung, James Blair – who’s now working outside the White House to help Republicans win the midterms – and Walt Nauta.
Notably absent from the list the White House provided was Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he boards Air Force One en route to China, for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid the Iran war
Eric Trump (right) and Lara Trump (center) walk off Marine One in front of Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) ahead of boarding Air Force One to China on Tuesday afternoon
Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in mid-March, but has continued working.
Principal deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly is staffing the trip due to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt being out on maternity leave.
Natalie Harp, nicknamed the ‘human printer,’ for always traveling with a portable printer, is also on the trip.
The White House also invited a business delegation to China, who appear to be traveling separately.
That list included the former leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk.
It’s been nearly a year since Trump and Musk had their dramatic feud, but Musk now appears to be fully back in the President’s good graces.
The Tesla and SpaceX head will be joined by Apple’s Tim Cook, Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick – who worked in the first Trump administration and is married to GOP Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick – BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, and more, a White House official told the Daily Mail.
Trump delayed the trip – originally scheduled for late March – by citing the active conflict in Iran.
On a press call Sunday, a senior US official explained that Trump didn’t delay his meeting with Xi further by essentially arguing that the President can walk and chew gum at the same time.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) lefts Eric Trump (center) and Lara Trump (right) board Marine One first after the Trump accidentally boarded the presidential helicopter using the wrong door
Eric Trump (left) and Lara Trump (right) watch as President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters on the White House’s South Lawn ahead of his departure for China
(from left) Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Walt Nauta, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Natalie Harp – nicknamed the ‘human printer’ for bringing a portable printer with her on trips – walk the South Lawn ahead of boarding Marine One on Tuesday as the President departed for China
President Donald Trump waves as he departs Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday afternoon for Beijing, China
‘Why would he not continue with all the other duties that he has as a US President?’ the official mused. ‘I don’t think he has the luxury to focus on just one sort of soda straw issue.’
The official noted how the Iran war has gone on for ‘weeks and weeks on end.’
‘I think, clearly, six weeks ago, we were in a bit more of an active situation in Iran, and the President made the decision to push it back. But I think, as of right now, obviously, we’re a go on the trip,’ the source said.
Trump took one trip to China during his first term, in November 2017, less than a year after he was sworn in.
While President Joe Biden took several trips to Asia, he never visited China during his single term.
Instead, he met with Xi on the sidelines of several international conferences.
