Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticizes President Donald Trump’s plans for a “lavish welcome” for Chinese President Xi Jinping during his upcoming visit to Washington. The remarks mark a notable public disagreement between Wicker and Trump ahead of their high-stakes summit.
Both outlets report that Wicker opposes the tone and scope of the planned reception, arguing that it is inappropriate given his view of Xi. Wicker characterizes Xi as an “oppressive dictator,” and frames his objection as a matter of principle rather than policy specifics tied to the summit itself.
The two sources align on the core facts: Wicker is the key senator delivering the criticism, the dispute centers on the planned reception in Washington, and the timing comes immediately before a major Trump–Xi meeting. The coverage does not cite a direct response from the White House in the provided excerpts, nor does it detail the specific elements of the reception being criticized.
