WASHINGTON — During a state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump on Thursday night to honor Chinese President Xi Jinping, the evening highlighted the intersection of high-stakes diplomacy and modern corporate power. The event drew a roster of prominent technology industry figures, alongside elaborate menu choices and fashion statements that underscored the pageantry of the occasion.
In his toast, President Trump emphasized the durability of the relationship between the two nations despite their differing political systems. “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. He added that the two leaders could work together to foster prosperity and security for future generations.
The guest list included several heavyweights from the tech sector, such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, and Dell Technologies chairman Michael Dell. Huang was noted for swapping his signature black leather jacket for a tuxedo, while LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault entered through security fencing to join the festivities.
First Lady Melania Trump selected the evening’s attire, opting for a tuxedo-style ensemble consisting of a white Saint Laurent cotton poplin blouse, a black silk cummerbund, and black brocade pants with a peony motif by Dolce & Gabbana. President Trump wore a traditional tuxedo, while President Xi wore a black suit and his wife, Peng Liyuan, wore a red gown. The East Room setting featured low lighting with red and gold decor.
The menu, curated by the First Lady, utilized red china from the Ronald Reagan presidency. The meal began with a yellow squash velouté served with wild mushrooms, crispy pancetta, fresh herbs, and scallion oil. The main course featured sesame-crusted sea bass accompanied by braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant, and sauce verte. Dessert options included vanilla crémeux with sour cherry confit and walnut frangipane, as well as ice cream made with honey from the White House.
During the dinner, Trump also promoted the construction of a new ballroom on the South Lawn, which he refers to as the “Great Hall of the United States.” He suggested the structure could rival the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where he dined during a state visit in May. Trump invited guests to tour the construction site after the entertainment concluded, noting the project was approximately one year from completion. He also presented Xi with an eagle statue he claimed was designed in collaboration with Melania.
Xi reciprocated by acknowledging Trump’s goal to “make America great again,” stating that China is committed to its own “great national rejuvenation.” Xi described these ambitions as mutually reinforcing. The dinner followed a day of business discussions where the leaders addressed tensions regarding trade, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan, alongside an ongoing legal dispute over press access at the White House.
This display of diplomatic pomp stands in contrast to Trump’s stance during his 2015 presidential campaign, when he criticized the planned state visit then-President Barack Obama was preparing for Xi. At that time, Trump suggested taking Chinese leaders to McDonald’s instead, later musing that Xi might deserve a “double-size Big Mac.” The current dinner marked the second time the two leaders have shared a state dinner, following the event in Beijing last May.
A new ballroom on the South Lawn? That seems like a massive renovation project. I hope taxpayers know what they are paying for there.
Can we talk about the sea bass? It sounds surprisingly sophisticated compared to the usual White House dinner fare. Maybe not fast food after all.
The irony of McDonald’s jokes now replaced with gold decor is palpable. Diplomacy really is all about pageantry these days.
I’m honestly surprised to see Jensen Huang wearing a tuxedo. That man loves his leather jacket too much to give it up for formal wear.
Interesting that Trump invited so many tech CEOs. I wonder if AI regulation was a quiet agenda item.