President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping drank tea at the White House on Friday and visited the National Archives, capping a three-day summit that showcased personal diplomacy rather than big breakthroughs in economic relations.
The two leaders praised each other in remarks while they had tea in the White House Red Room. Trump said the summit between the world’s two largest economies had produced great strides. “America is very happy about this visit, and I'm sure China is very happy also,” he said.
Xi said the US-China relationship had developed into a constructive one of “strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness and reciprocity.” Xi also said he and Trump would have two more opportunities to meet this year, the APEC summit in China and a G20 summit in Miami.
“I do welcome you, Mr. President and the First Lady to visit China,” he said. The lavish state summit, with flyovers, tours and a glittering state dinner, has been heavy on symbolism but light on substance.
The Trumps feted their guests Thursday night with a black-tie state dinner, where a tech-heavy guest list, the fashion choices of those on it, who sat where and what was on the menu marked the softer —often and glitzier — details of diplomacy.
The event featured a cavalcade of billionaires, Washington powerbrokers, business leaders and the type of festivities that most excite Trump, who has a reputation for revelling in hosting parties. “President Xi and I both understand we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better,” Trump said during his toast.
Trump has done his best to impress Xi during China’s leader’s during Xi’s three-day visit to Washington, and praised their close personal relationship — even as he has decried top Democratic candidates as “communists” ahead of the November midterm elections.
All About Eagle Statue and Red China
This included letting the Chinese President tour the Marine One presidential helicopter and a new helipad he built for it - before attention quickly turned to the flashy details of the swanky meal.
Xi noted in his own toast that "President Trump has pledged to make America great again" and that "China is committed to achieving great national rejuvenation. These two goals are both ambitious and can surely be mutually reinforcing."
Trump wore a tuxedo, and Melania Trump's office said the first lady opted for a tuxedo-style outfit: a white Saint Laurent cotton poplin blouse, a black silk cummerbund and black brocade pants - both from Dolce & Gabbana - with a peony motif.
Xi chose a black suit and his wife, Peng Liyuan, wore a red gown. The East Room, where the dinner was held, featured low lighting and place settings with elegant red and gold decor.
Those in attendance included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who signed autographs upon arriving at the White House. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang opted for a tuxedo over his trademark black leather jacket. Bernard Arnault, the CEO of French luxury goods company LVMH, walked through black security fencing to enter the event.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman, and Dell Technologies chairman and CEO Michael Dell were also present.
The president toasted his strong relationship with Xi and said he can't help but talk up the ballroom being built. "If I could go off script just for a second, I just want to say I had to do it," he said, as those assembled laughed. He presented Xi with an eagle statue that he said was designed "in personal collaboration with Melania and myself." Xi did not present Trump a public gift in return during the dinner.
The first lady helped craft the evening's menu, which was served on the red china from Ronald Reagan's presidency. It featured a first course of yellow squash veloute with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, crispy pancetta and drizzled scallion oil.
