Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined President Donald Trump on Air Force One for a diplomatic trip to Beijing, China. The mission includes a delegation of ten other prominent American business leaders aimed at strengthening economic ties. While Trump posted a full roster of attendees on Truth Social, Musk clarified via X that he and Huang were the sole executives aboard the presidential aircraft during the flight over the Pacific Ocean, utilizing a Starlink connection to post updates. The journey highlights the complex relationship between US tech giants and the Chinese market. Huang, known for his long-standing efforts to secure permissions for Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips in China, joined the president during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. He was pictured on the tarmac wearing a backpack. Similarly, Sanjay Mehrotra of Micron and Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm are on the trip, navigating a landscape where Chinese regulations have previously restricted access to American semiconductor technology. Micron, for instance, faced restrictions in 2023 regarding its chips in China's critical infrastructure. The trip also features industry leaders hoping to capitalize on China's massive aviation market. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is part of the delegation, following a history of high-value agreements with Chinese carriers, including a recent $96 billion deal announced during a trip to Qatar. With Airbus securing a significant order from China Southern Airlines last month, Ortberg aims to secure further contracts. Other notable figures include Apple's Tim Cook, BlackRock's Larry Fink, and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, among others. This political and business alliance comes amidst shifting dynamics in the electric vehicle sector. Despite Musk being a major donor in the 2024 election, investing at least $277 million, Tesla has recently faced stiff competition from Chinese rivals like BYD, which outsold Tesla in battery electric vehicles in 2025. The two had previously experienced public friction when Musk criticized Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" and considered forming a new political party. President Trump stated during the flight that he intends to ask Chinese President Xi Jinping to open the market further. In a post on Tuesday night, Trump expressed hope that the business leaders would work with the Chinese government to bring the country to a higher level of development. The delegation's arrival in Beijing underscores the intersection of high-stakes diplomacy and corporate strategy as US executives seek to maintain their foothold in one of the world's largest economies.