Donald Trump is facing open revolt from Republicans, including a staunch Senate ally, as he rolls out the red carpet to Chinese tyrant Xi Jinping. The president will meet Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, the communist dictator's first US state visit in 11 years which includes a lavish banquet on Thursday. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, one of Trump's allies in the upper chamber, issued a blistering critique on the Senate floor on Tuesday. 'Had the White House asked me for advice, I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome,' the Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman said. 'During every minute of dialog, our commander-in-chief should keep in mind that his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America,' Wicker continued. Republican lawmakers are wary of China's staggering military buildup, its support for Iran, detention of Uyghurs in labor camps, as well as the increasingly high-stakes AI race, which has been likened to modern Manhattan Project. Taiwan is central to the AI race.

The democratic island, which is constantly menaced by China's military, is home to TSMC, the chipmaking giant responsible for 90 percent of the world's cutting-edge chips used in AI systems, smartphones, supercomputers and military technology. Republicans led by Mitch McConnell were also this week urging Trump to back a $14 billion military package for Taiwan. Xi is reportedly planning to lobby Trump against the deal on his visit. They also pushed for another $1.3 billion in funds already approved for the island's defense be spent before it expires at the end of this month.

Because China views Taiwan as its own territory, any major US arms sale to the nation risks heightening tensions between the two superpowers, even though US law requires it to provide Taiwan's democratic government with defense capabilities. Trump, during his meeting with Xi in Beijing earlier this year, expressed doubt about the $14 billion military aid package after the Chinese president pressed him on it. 'We are concerned by President Trump's description of Taiwan as 'a very good negotiating chip' in engagements with Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party,' four GOP senators wrote in a letter sent to Secretaries Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth. They note how the Secretary of War himself has previously said 'the threat China poses is real' and 'it could be imminent.'

The letter was signed by Senators McConnell, John Cornyn, Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis – all of whom are frequent Trump critics. Some in Trump's orbit are also curious about what the extravagant welcome will accomplish. 'Are you advancing our country's objectives or not?' one source close to the White House told Politico. 'Whether or not you tell me that you have a good relationship or not is really incidental to what I care about.' Trump is essentially mirroring his own state visit to Beijing in May with Xi during his visit to Washington this week.

Xi will arrive at Trump's presidential airport, Joint Base Andrews, for a welcome ceremony on Wednesday evening. Trump is scheduled to greet Xi at the airport ceremony despite the Chinese president not welcoming the US president at the airport during his trip to Beijing. 'He decided to do it because they have a great relationship,' First Lady Melania Trump said, 'and we need to welcome them with the most respect.' On Thursday, the president and Melania will welcome Xi and his wife Madame Peng to the White House with an arrival ceremony on the State Floor before a military review in the Rose Garden and subsequent bilateral meetings.

That evening, Trump will host the Chinese delegation for a state dinner in the East Room, where both presidents will deliver remarks. Top Cabinet officials and American CEOs are expected to attend, including executives from Apple, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Tesla and more. On Friday, the first couple will host the first couple of China for tea at the White House before doing a tour of the National Archives, where they will view key US founding documents, before Xi and Madame Peng depart from Joint Base Andrews.