Trump says Xi state dinner is ‘a very tough ticket’ as business guest list takes shape
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had turned away friends hoping to attend next week’s state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, as reports emerged that executives from some of China’s biggest companies could join the visit. “This is a very tough ticket for me,” Trump told reporters. “I’ve told a lot of very good friends of mine, you just can’t come.” The president said the…
President Donald Trump expressed his reluctance on Friday to invite friends to next week's state dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing it as a "very tough ticket". The White House can only accommodate around 125 guests, whereas thousands are eager to attend. Trump lamented that the planned ballroom, capable of seating 2,000 guests, has yet to be opened. First lady Melania Trump shared a video showcasing preparations, including the menu and floral arrangements.
The White House is finalizing a list of Chinese business executives invited to the visit, according to Reuters. Potential attendees include executives from BYD, CATL, Gotion, Xiaomi, Hisense, Wanxiang Group, Bank of China, and COFCO, among others, as reported by Reuters. However, the final list has not been confirmed, and inclusion does not guarantee an invitation to the White House dinner. Notable US figures planning to attend are Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Apple board chairman Tim Cook.
Despite the potential presence of Chinese business leaders, the US Treasury Secretary is meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on Sunday to discuss the economic implications of the Trump-Xi summit. The meeting will also cover artificial intelligence safety and governance. The inclusion of certain Chinese companies in the delegation could be problematic for US companies facing restrictions or scrutiny.
CATL and BYD are on a Pentagon list of companies linked to China's military, and US regulations and tariffs pose significant barriers to Chinese electric vehicles in the American market. Trump has expressed optimism about their meeting, stating he anticipates a "very good meeting" and that they will discuss various deals, including a potential AI safety agreement.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
