President Donald Trump is on his way to Beijing right now with a plane full of America’s most powerful business leaders. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hopped on Air Force One at the last minute after Trump personally called him. The move sent ripples through both Wall Street and the crypto market, pushing Bitcoin above $81,000 and lifting Nvidia shares in overnight trading.

Jensen Huang Boards Air Force One in Last-Minute Twist

Jensen Huang was not supposed to be on this trip. As recently as Sunday, reports confirmed the Nvidia chief was left off the official delegation list. The White House had reportedly wanted to avoid awkward conversations about chip export controls with China.

But Trump changed course. After seeing the media coverage of Huang’s absence, the president picked up the phone and invited him directly.

Huang boarded Air Force One during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday night. Nvidia shares climbed in overnight trading following the news, with the company’s market cap holding above $5.3 trillion.

The stock move reflects investor excitement about what Huang’s presence could mean for AI chip negotiations between Washington and Beijing. Nvidia has been at the center of the U.S.-China tech battle for years, and his seat on that plane signals export restrictions could be part of the conversation.

America’s Top CEOs Fly With the President

Huang is far from the only heavyweight on board. Trump brought more than a dozen of the country’s top executives for what may be the most corporate-heavy presidential trip in recent memory.

Here is the full list of CEOs traveling with Trump:

• Elon Musk, Tesla
• Tim Cook, Apple
• Larry Fink, BlackRock
• Kelly Ortberg, Boeing
• Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone
• Brian Sikes, Cargill
• Jane Fraser, Citigroup
• Jim Anderson, Coherent
• David Solomon, Goldman Sachs
• Michael Miebach, Mastercard
• Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm
• Ryan McInerney, Visa

The combined market value of the companies represented runs into the tens of trillions of dollars. Trump posted on Truth Social that he would ask Xi Jinping to “open up” China so these executives “can work their magic.”

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg’s presence stands out. China has not placed a major Boeing order in nearly a decade. Industry watchers expect a deal for up to 500 Boeing 737 Max aircraft could be on the table, along with large purchases of American soybeans, beef, and poultry.

Bitcoin Breaks Past $81,000 on Trade Hopes

Crypto markets wasted no time reacting. Bitcoin jumped more than 1.5% to hit a 24-hour high of $81,248 as traders bet that warmer U.S.-China relations would trigger a risk-on mood across global markets.

The rally came despite a tough inflation report the day before. The April Consumer Price Index showed prices rising 3.8% year over year, the highest reading since May 2023. Energy costs driven up by the ongoing Iran conflict were the biggest factor behind the spike.

BTC had dipped to $79,832 after the CPI release. But the Jensen Huang news and the overall optimism around the summit quickly pulled prices back up.

Traders are now watching two key events closely:

• Today’s PPI report: Economists expect Producer Price Index inflation to jump to 4.9% from 4% previously, with Core PPI rising to 4.3%.
• Kevin Warsh’s Fed Chair vote: The Senate confirmed Warsh as Fed Governor on Monday in a 51-45 vote. His final confirmation as Fed Chair is expected later this week.

Warsh has publicly called Bitcoin the “new gold for under 40s” and disclosed investments in more than 20 crypto-linked entities. The Senate Banking Committee’s markup of the CLARITY Act, a major crypto market structure bill, is also set for Thursday. Together, these events could shape crypto sentiment through the rest of May.

Bessent Sets the Stage With Secret Talks in Seoul

While Trump was in the air, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was already doing the groundwork. Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for three hours at Incheon International Airport near Seoul on Wednesday.

The meeting was meant to nail down the agenda before Trump and Xi sit down on Thursday. Officials described the session as exploratory rather than a breakthrough moment, with both sides discussing trade, supply chains, tariffs, and critical minerals.

Bessent also met with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to discuss supply chain partnerships.

The U.S. and China are trying to extend a trade truce reached last fall. Under the current arrangement, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods sit at 30%, while China maintains 10% tariffs on American imports. A rare earths agreement that allows Chinese exports of key minerals to American buyers is still in effect but needs renewal before it expires this fall.

One area where the two sides have already found common ground is the Strait of Hormuz. The State Department confirmed that both countries agree no nation should be allowed to charge tolls on international waterways. That is a direct message aimed at Iran.

What the Trump-Xi Summit Could Change

This is the first time a sitting U.S. president has visited China since 2017. The stakes stretch far beyond trade deals.

Summit Topic	What Is at Stake
Trade and Tariffs	Extending the truce, lowering tariff barriers
Rare Earths	Renewing export licenses for critical minerals
Aviation	Potential Boeing 737 Max order worth billions
AI and Chips	Nvidia export controls and AI cooperation
Iran and Hormuz	Joint pressure on Tehran over the strait
Taiwan	Managing tensions over cross-strait relations

Successful outcomes on even a few of these issues could boost stocks, lift crypto prices, and calm investor nerves around global supply chains.

But risks remain. Trump said over the weekend that the Iran ceasefire is “on massive life support” after calling Tehran’s latest peace proposal “garbage.” If tensions with Iran escalate further, energy prices could spike again, putting even more pressure on inflation and keeping the Federal Reserve locked at current rates.

The world is watching Beijing this week. With Jensen Huang’s surprise addition and the sheer weight of corporate America on that plane, this trip carries more than diplomatic significance. It could reshape trade rules, shift tech policy, and move billions across financial markets. For everyday investors, crypto holders, and working families feeling the squeeze of 3.8% inflation, the next 48 hours may prove to be some of the most important of the year. Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know what you expect from this historic summit.