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Trump Hosts Xi and Peng at Lavish State Dinner
Confirmed
In Short: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, for a state dinner in the East Room of the White House.
The dinner, which took place on Thursday evening, marked the first visit by the Chinese couple to the White House in over a decade.
Before the dinner, Mrs. Trump and Madame Peng visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, exploring works that reflect centuries of artistic achievement and cultural exchange between the United States and China.
The visit included a tour of the Peacock Room, an immersive 19th-century work by American artist James McNeill Whistler, which has been a centerpiece of the museum’s collection since 1923.
The museum visit concluded with a performance by the Hope Chinese School youth choir, which sang traditional Chinese songs for the first lady and Peng.
The state dinner featured a grand arrival ceremony on the South Lawn, State Floor, and Rose Garden, with 479 military personnel representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
First Lady Melania Trump wore a white cotton Saint Laurent blouse with a large bow, black brocade Dolce & Gabbana skinny pants, and a belt designed by her stylist Herve Pierre.
Madame Peng Liyuan, known for her understated elegance, wore a solid deep red gown with a black clutch and a gold clasp.
According to POTUS, the dinner was “the hottest ticket in town” during the United Nations General Assembly, with “sort of everybody” expected to attend.
The East Room, the largest room in the White House, was used for the dinner, which included a variety of cultural and diplomatic activities.
The visit by Xi and Peng was part of a three-day official state visit to Washington, with their arrival at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday.
The state dinner highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties and cultural exchanges between the United States and China.
What this adds
The Hope Chinese School youth choir performed traditional Chinese songs for the first lady and Peng, adding a cultural touch to the visit.
Background
The East Room is an event and reception room in the Executive Residence of the White House complex, the home of the president of the United States. The East Room is the largest room in the Executive Residence; it is used for dances, receptions, press conferences, ceremonies, concerts, and banquets.
What's confirmed
- The dinner comes more than a decade after the couple’s last visit to the White House.
- OAN Staff Brooke Mallory 6:10 PM – Thursday, September 24, 2026 Nearing toward the end of the three-day visit, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan, for a lavish state dinner in the East Room of the White House on Thursday evening.
- On Thursday morning, September 24, the President and First Lady will host a State Arrival Ceremony honoring His Excellency, Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China and Madame Peng Liyuan.
What's still developing
- The dining room also included prominent figures such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and financial leaders including Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon.
- While calling out their designers of choice for global photo-ops has been routine procedure for First Ladies – that is not a standard protocol for Madame Peng Liyuan, however.
- Related Articles Celebrity News The Mall Brand T-shirt Melania Trump Wore While Welcoming China's Head of State Celebrity News Rihanna's Pleated Ferragamo Dress Prompts Online Pregnancy Speculation in Paris Madame Peng Liyuan looked striking in a solid deep red gown with a black clutch with a gold clasp.
- You May Also Like Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews Wednesday night, Madame Peng Liyuan exemplified her understated elegance, wearing a pale pink scarf with a dove gray dress that had a Chinese collar and qipao-type side slits on the long skirt.