Trump highlights friendship with Xi during state visit, puzzling some Republicans

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the importance of responsible leadership for the world’s two largest economies during a state dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump. At the White House, Trump expressed that the two nations have never had a better relationship, while Xi honored the meticulous care the White House had shown his wife and himself.

The high-profile event attracted Silicon Valley titans and billionaires, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and OpenAI head Sam Altman. The discussions at the tables centered around the ongoing AI competition between the two superpowers. Despite the amicable atmosphere, notable corporate leaders from Anthropic were notably absent.

Trump presented Xi with a custom bald eagle sculpture, symbolizing American freedom, while Xi expressed gratitude for the meticulous care his hosts had provided. The Chinese leader urged both nations to explore a new approach for major global powers, aiming for a constructive China-US relationship based on strategic stability. While the summit concluded with a private tea and a visit to the National Archives, experts cautioned that significant progress on critical issues like trade, Taiwan, and security remained elusive, despite the theatrical warmth between the leaders.