Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at a White House state dinner, where the two leaders invoked the history of US-China relations as the event unfolded against a dispute over media access.
Mr Trump welcomed Chinese officials, Republican donors and prominent executives including Jeff Bezos, Jensen Huang and Elon Musk to the East Room. He appeared to depart from his prepared remarks to point Mr Xi towards the new ballroom being built at the White House.
“It’s one year away from complete, the new ballroom that you’ve heard about,” Mr Trump said. “And you will see something that I think you will really love.”
Mr Xi arrived with a gift of his own, announcing that China would send two pandas to Atlanta Zoo.
Mr Trump later described the day in a Truth Social post as a “made-for-TV moment”. But major television networks declined to provide shared footage after the president blocked CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
Reporters from the three outlets regained access around midday, although the television pool remained suspended. The networks had said they would not resume coverage until the White House formally agreed to allow CNN to take part in the pool again.
Chinese state media workers were nevertheless permitted on to the White House grounds.
At the dinner, Mr Xi used his toast to recall President Richard Nixon’s rapprochement with Beijing in 1972, while leaving out the most difficult moments of the Cold War. His remarks appeared to present the episode as a model for Mr Trump, while making clear that any renewed relationship would be shaped on Beijing’s terms.
“Such a friendship, forged in blood and fire,” Mr Xi said, “will surely live on through the generations.”
