President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a lavish White House state dinner Thursday night, pairing Chinese emissaries with American billionaires and government officials against the backdrop of ongoing trade and technology negotiations.
Dignitaries gathered in the East Room — which was draped in red linens and decorated with blossoms, dahlias, ranunculus and gold-plated silver — and heard the two state leaders’ toasts over glasses of Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir,” the same wine served during President Richard Nixon’s famous 1972 “Toast to Peace” in Beijing.
In his opening address, Trump called Xi and his delegation “truly amazing, outstanding people,” invited the group to tour the unfinished White House ballroom, and gifted Xi with a statue of a bald eagle that he said he designed himself along with first lady Melania Trump.
“As the leaders of our two nations,” Trump said, “President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better.”
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In his statements, the Chinese president broadly detailed the progress made since Trump’s visit to China in May, when the two leaders agreed to further bilateral ties. Xi and Trump had “sincere and in-depth exchanges,” the state leader said, and had reached “common understanding on many issues.”
“This has added new substance to the constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability,” Xi said, adding that “China and the United States must act as responsible major countries, meet the expectations of our peoples, keep pace with the trend of our times, and explore a new approach for major countries to get along with each other.”
Xi concluded his statements with a toast, lifting his glass to “the friendship of our two peoples.”
The lengthy guest list included more than 130 people, bringing together executives with competing visions for AI governance — a running motif of this week’s summit — including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, who recently urged more international safeguards, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, who reportedly lobbied Trump against national regulations.
Elon Musk was also listed as a guest, signaling a potential reconciliation after he and Trump had a public falling-out in June 2025. Earlier this month, Trump told Fox News he would not impede Chinese automakers who seek to build electric vehicles in the U.S. — a move that could encroach on Musk’s territory, as Tesla battles Chinese company BYD to lead the world in EV sales and production.
Most reporters were not welcomed into the East Room for the meal, with the exception of a group of Fox News personalities, including Laura Ingraham, Bret Baier and Jesse Watters.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Trump-appointed justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh were also invited.
Ahead of Xi’s entrance, a few moments of disorder took place. Outside the executive residence, White House staff turned away reporters from MS NOW and CNN from the arrival ceremony, as reporters were required to get preapproval by Wednesday night to cover the event. At the time, Trump’s ban on the outlets had not yet been lifted.
Protesters waiting for the Chinese motorcade chanted “free Hong Kong” and called for China to release political prisoners ahead of the dinner.
“CCP, your empire will fall! CCP, you’re not welcome!” some shouted.
Just after 7 p.m., Trump and the first lady greeted their Chinese counterparts and stood for photos in the newly renovated North Portico.
The two leaders ignored questions from reporters about Taiwan or artificial intelligence as they entered the White House. Trump also declined to answer whether he had asked Xi to free imprisoned Chinese activist Jimmy Lai, who was arrested and sentenced in 2020 for his role in organizing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
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