Trump presents Xi Jinping with an eagle statue at state dinner and invites him to see the White House’s new ballroom — Pentagon working to recover F-35 parts seized by China

WASHINGTON — Thursday evening’s state dinner in the White House East Room brought a symbolic gesture from U.S. President Donald Trump to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping: the unveiling of a large bald eagle statue, which he presented to the Chinese leader. “We hope it finds a beautiful home in Beijing,” Trump said, according to the New York Post. He also invited Xi to visit the construction site of the White House’s new ballroom — the American president’s pet project.

The candlelit dinner was overseen by First Lady Melania Trump. The menu featured “American ingredients with Chinese influences,” while the toast was made with Schramsberg wine recalling the “Toast to Peace” between Richard Nixon and Zhou Enlai in 1972. Tenor Christopher Macchio performed in the artistic program.

Among the guests were some of the most powerful names in technology and business: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Dell. During the day, Trump showed Xi the Rose Garden renovations and the new granite helipad, and took him aboard the presidential helicopter Marine One.

Xi arrived Thursday at Andrews Air Force Base, where Trump personally greeted him at the aircraft steps — the first time an American president has given such a welcome since 1962, when John F. Kennedy greeted a foreign leader that way. Outside the White House, protesters gathered, some dressed in Winnie the Pooh costumes.

Politico reported that the Pentagon is working to recover the F-35 fighter jet parts seized by China in May. During the visit, Xi donated two new pandas — Ping Ping and Fu Shuang — to the Atlanta zoo, and announced that 100,000 American students will study in China over the next five years. Treasury Secretary Bessent announced that the trade truce was extended by two months, from November 10 to January 10.

Xi asked the United States to “adhere to the correct position against Taiwan independence,” according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. Friday’s program foresees a tea in the Red Room and a visit to the National Archives before Xi’s departure.

Source: New York Post