President Donald Trump stood at the center of the White House East Room, raising a glass to an audience that spanned billionaires, tech CEOs and foreign dignitaries, and declared that "the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better."
Trump’s statement came after a private tour of Marine One and a showcase of a new helipad, a move that highlighted the administration’s desire to impress Xi Jinping, who had arrived from Beijing for a three‑day visit that began on Wednesday morning at Joint Base Andrews.
While the political climate remains fraught—Trump has branded Democratic rivals as "communists" and has threatened to revise U.S. trade policy—he softened the tone at the dinner, emphasizing shared prosperity and security. He also presented Xi with an eagle statue crafted in collaboration with First Lady Melania, a gesture that, though symbolic, underscored a personal rapport that has been cultivated since their first meeting in 2017.
The menu, curated by the Trumps, featured yellow squash velouté and sesame‑crusted sea bass, a nod to Chinese culinary traditions, while the fashion choices—Trump in a tuxedo, Xi in a black suit—added a layer of pageantry. Guests included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, and LVMH head Bernard Arnault, whose presence underscored the economic stakes of the summit.
The president’s toast was followed by a promise to open a newly constructed ballroom, dubbed the "Great Hall of the United States," to guests once construction—scheduled to finish in 2027—completes. The announcement was met with applause and a quiet promise that the next day’s formal talks will address trade, AI policy and Taiwan.
Ahead of the summit’s four‑day schedule, Washington is preparing to host a joint press conference on September 25, where officials will outline a framework for trade talks and a joint statement on artificial intelligence. The next phase will see diplomats from both sides convene in the new ballroom on the South Lawn, a venue that Trump claims will rival Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.