Trump gives Xi a tour of his pet White House building projects, including the ballroom

Property developer Donald Trump, now President of the United States, took Chinese President Xi Jinping on a tour of his recent White House construction projects on Thursday. This was done to showcase Trump's building ambitions that have emerged since their last meeting in China.

During the Oval Office talks, Trump introduced Xi to the South Lawn, where Marine One, the helicopter used for the US president's transportation, awaited. Videos of this moment went viral, showing the two presidents discussing the helipad, which cost US$5 million to construct.

Xi showed interest in the granite used for the helipad, remarking on his "great interest in granite" and his expertise in stone. Trump then led Xi to a series of construction sites, with granite again catching Xi's attention.

The highlight of the tour was a visit to the construction site for the new ballroom. Trump invited Xi to tour the site, highlighting its potential to improve White House security and accommodate larger events.

This visit to the White House construction sites drew comparisons to Trump's previous visit to China in May. During that trip, Trump had made repeated references to the ballroom being constructed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, prompting Xi to point it out during their meeting.

Trump, who has been involved in real estate since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, sees his White House projects as part of his legacy as a first president with no prior government or military background.