Inside Trump’s White House State Dinner for Xi Jinping

A White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping brought together senior U.S. officials, billionaires and leading technology executives, turning the event into a notable display of diplomatic hospitality.
The dinner was held on September 24 during Xi’s state visit to Washington. Such events are traditionally viewed as an important form of soft diplomacy, offering leaders an opportunity to strengthen relations between countries.
The guest list included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and other senior administration officials.
Trump’s children Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany Trump also attended. Technology leaders including Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and former Apple CEO Tim Cook were among the prominent guests.
Several leading Chinese business executives, however, were absent from the dinner. According to sources cited by the South China Morning Post, some Chinese business leaders had traveled to the United States hoping to receive invitations but were not included.
Trump had previously described invitations to the dinner as extremely difficult to obtain, saying that thousands of people wanted to attend and that he had to turn down several close friends.
The selection process for a White House state dinner typically involves the White House and State Department. Political officials may recommend lawmakers involved in bilateral relations, while the first lady’s advisers can recommend guests connected to causes she supports.
Major donors, business leaders with interests in the visiting country, celebrities, administration officials and selected journalists can also be included.
The number of guests is generally determined by the capacity of the venue. The White House State Dining Room can accommodate about 130 people, while the East Room can hold roughly 250.
The dinner has therefore often been viewed as a gathering of political and business influence, as the guest list can provide insight into the administration’s diplomatic and political priorities.
For the occasion, Trump wore a tuxedo, while first lady Melania Trump wore a white cotton-poplin shirt with a black silk belt and black brocade trousers decorated with peony patterns.
Xi wore a black suit, while his wife, Peng Liyuan, appeared in a red dress. The East Room was decorated with subdued lighting for the evening.
Melania Trump also participated in planning the dinner menu, which was served on porcelain tableware dating from the administration of former President Ronald Reagan.
Trump expressed appreciation for Xi’s visit, describing the relationship between the two leaders as strong and saying they had “never been better aligned.”
Xi thanked the United States for what he described as a thoughtful and careful welcome, saying that he and Peng felt “truly at home.”
The Chinese president also said the two leaders were “writing history” through their bilateral cooperation, underscoring the diplomatic significance attached to the three-day visit.