A decade ago, Donald Trump criticized former President Barack Obama for hosting a state dinner for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, promising that he would never throw a lavish banquet for the world’s second‑largest economy if he became president. At a 2015 rally in South Carolina, Trump suggested Xi would be better served with a McDonald’s meal, saying he would give him a double‑size Big Mac.
Last Thursday, Trump broke that promise. Dressed in a tuxedo, he hosted a formal state dinner at the White House, inviting billionaires, political allies and media personalities. The menu featured sesame‑crusted sea bass, yellow squash velouté and a vanilla crêmeux dessert, with no burgers in sight. Trump also toured guests through a construction site in the White House’s East Room, a heavily fortified ballroom under renovation.
The event drew a mix of tech magnates, defense officials and Supreme Court justices, while reporters from CNN and MS NOW were denied access. Trump used the occasion to criticize China’s press environment, claiming it had the “friendliest press corps,” and to highlight the U.S. war with Iran, which costs billions monthly.
Trump’s remarks did not address artificial intelligence, though he noted that Xi had agreed to call the technology “super intelligence.” Xi, meanwhile, acknowledged the need for responsible AI development. Trump also reiterated his opposition to AI regulation at the United Nations General Assembly, advocating for encouragement rather than restraint.
The dinner, described by Trump as “magnificent” and “made for television,” aimed to impress Xi and solidify Trump’s role as a global host, though its impact on trade, Taiwan or the Iran conflict remains unclear.
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