Trump hosts Xi for state dinner as pomp masks tensions

On Thursday, President Donald Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a lavish state dinner at the White House, with numerous high-profile US tech executives such as Elon Musk of Tesla, Tim Cook of Apple, and Jensen Huang of Nvidia attending. Protesters gathered outside the White House, chanting slogans against Xi and in support of Hong Kong.

President Trump boasted about the progress made with Xi during the dinner, noting they represented different systems but their people's ties endured. The Chinese leader took a more cautious stance, urging both nations to coexist peacefully while laying down red lines on AI, Taiwan, and the Iran war. Trump presented Xi with a custom-made bald eagle statue, and both guests dined on various dishes during the event.

While business discussions took place, expectations for any major breakthroughs were low, with only a two-month extension of a trade truce to be achieved. The visit focused more on spectacle, aiming to ease tensions between the world's two largest economies.