Senator Thom Tillis expressed strong disapproval of President Trump's welcoming of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tillis questioned why Xi received a more favorable reception than allies of the United States. This criticism is notable as Tillis has diverged from Trump more frequently since opting not to seek reelection. He described the red-carpet treatment of Xi as a "WTF moment" during an interview. Tillis voiced concern over prioritizing time with autocratic leaders over democratic ones. He suggested Xi's visit aimed to understand how American opposition might adopt China's perspective. The Senator also pondered the reason for Trump's apparent shift in policy towards China. He highlighted human rights abuses, espionage, and alleged access to U.S. voter data from China as reasons for concern. Tillis emphasized the need for accountability regarding unacceptable actions by China. The summit also featured politically charged moments, including a display related to President Biden. Trump also contrasted China's state media positively against the American press.