Trump Brings Musk, Nvidia's Huang to China Summit

President Trump traveled to Beijing this week with a delegation of 17 American chief executives, though only Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang secured seats aboard Air Force One [1]. While 15 other business leaders flew on commercial or corporate jets, Huang joined the presidential aircraft during a refueling stop in Alaska after a last-minute invitation from Trump [1][4].

Key takeaways

• Only Musk and Huang flew on Air Force One, while 15 other CEOs in the delegation took commercial flights [1].
• Huang was a late addition to the trip, boarding the plane in Alaska after Trump called him to join [4].
• Chinese President Xi Jinping told the group that China’s door would "only open wider" for foreign business [1][3].
• Nvidia stock rose 9% on the week and Tesla rallied 12% in five sessions leading up to the summit [1].

A Selective Deplaning in Beijing

Upon arrival in Beijing, Trump was greeted by a red carpet and students chanting "Warm welcome," though the focus quickly shifted to the specific executives disembarking Air Force One [2]. Video footage showed Trump deplaning with family members and cabinet officials, accompanied solely by Musk and Huang, while other attendees like Apple CEO Tim Cook were part of the broader delegation but did not exit the plane [2][3]. During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the group, stating that U.S. companies are deeply involved in China's economy and that the nation's door will "only open wider" for foreign business [1][3].

Strategic Stakes for Tech Giants

The selection of Musk and Huang highlights the high stakes of the U.S.-China technology rivalry, as their companies possess a combined market capitalization exceeding $7 trillion [1]. For Nvidia, the trip carries significant financial weight; the company's guidance assumes zero data center revenue from China following export restrictions, though Washington has reportedly cleared H200 chip exports to select Chinese firms like Alibaba and Tencent [1][3]. Huang, who called the gathering "one of the most important summits in human history," has spent nearly a year lobbying to ease these restrictions [1][3]. Meanwhile, Tesla relies heavily on its Shanghai Gigafactory as its largest production hub and awaits regulatory approval for Full Self-Driving technology in China [1].

Why it matters

Analysts suggest that U.S. trade policy is increasingly negotiated through private proximity rather than institutional processes, giving companies with direct access to the President a distinct advantage over competitors [1]. Observers are now watching for concrete signals of success, specifically Commerce Department licensing announcements for Nvidia chip shipments within the next 60 days and any regulatory filings regarding Tesla's FSD approval before the second-quarter earnings report [1].