American service members were seen on their hands and knees smoothing the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival in Washington on Wednesday. Jinping, 73, exited his plane alongside First Lady Peng Liyuan to greet President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump"but not before a 100-foot-long red carpet was rolled out. Why Trump, who has raged against communism, chose to break precedent with Jinping is not clear. He will host a State Dinner for Jinping at the White House on Thursday"an occasion which he seems eager about.