White House Assembles Billionaire-Heavy CEO Delegation for Trump-Xi Summit in China

President Donald Trump will travel to China May 13-15 for his first summit of the second term with President Xi Jinping, bringing a delegation of more than a dozen top U.S. executives — including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and the heads of BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup — as he seeks to press Beijing for large purchase agreements and new investment in the United States.

The Details

The White House has invited over a dozen chief executives to join Trump's delegation for the three-day visit, according to Reuters, CBS News, and the New York Post. The roster spans Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and heavy industry: Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, Apple's Tim Cook, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Blackstone chairman Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing's Kelly Ortberg, Meta executive Dina Powell McCormick, Goldman Sachs's David Solomon, and Citigroup's Jane Fraser are among those invited. The New York Post reported that others beyond those named have also received invitations.

The executives on the list represent a combined net worth of approximately $870 billion, according to Forbes estimates — a figure that underscores the scale of American corporate firepower Trump is bringing to the talks.

Not every invited executive has committed to attending. CBS News reported that while the invitations have gone out, participation is not confirmed for all names on the list. At least two high-profile figures are already confirmed as absent. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who had previously indicated he would join the trip if invited, is not going, Reuters reported. Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins was invited but will skip the visit because it conflicts with a quarterly earnings call, according to the New York Post.

The inclusion of Musk on the delegation carries particular significance given the history between the two men. Musk and Trump had a very public falling out in early 2025, with Musk calling for Trump's impeachment during a period of open hostility. Their relationship has since been repaired, and Musk's presence on the delegation signals that the rift is firmly closed — at least for now. Musk departed the Trump administration in May 2025 after leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which oversaw deep cuts to the federal workforce.

Trump's objective for the summit is economic. According to the New York Post, he wants Xi to invest in America and is pressing China to commit to massive orders for American planes, soybeans, and other goods in an effort to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries. A Boeing order could become a centerpiece of any announced deals. Boeing was reportedly close to finalizing a 500-aircraft order for 737 Max jets to coincide with the meeting, according to a March Bloomberg report cited by Forbes, though that agreement has not been officially confirmed.

Context

The Trump-Xi summit was originally scheduled for March but was delayed as a result of the U.S. war with Iran, according to CBS News and Forbes. The postponement means the first in-person meeting between the two leaders during Trump's second term is now taking place against a backdrop of multiple unresolved economic and security disputes. Taiwan, broader trade tensions, and AI chip export restrictions are expected to be key topics at the summit, according to CBS News and Reuters. The presence of Wall Street leaders like Fink, Solomon, and Fraser alongside technology executives such as Cook and Musk reflects the breadth of American commercial interests at stake — from financial services access to semiconductor policy to agricultural exports. The delegation's composition also signals to Beijing the depth of U.S. corporate engagement with China, even as Washington maintains pressure on trade and technology transfer issues.

What's Next

The summit runs May 13-15, with the central question being whether Trump can extract concrete purchase commitments and investment pledges from Xi in exchange for any easing of tension on the American side. The reported Boeing order for 500 737 Max aircraft — if finalized — would represent a significant commercial outcome, as would any Chinese commitments on agricultural purchases. How the broader agenda items — Taiwan, AI chip export controls, and trade restrictions — are handled will shape the longer-term trajectory of the bilateral relationship. The final list of attending executives may also shift in the hours before departure, and any last-minute additions or withdrawals could carry their own diplomatic signal.