{
  "id": 9537510,
  "title": "First lady Peng Liyuan’s English takes the spotlight in exchange with Melania Trump",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/first-lady-peng-liyuans-english-takes-the-spotlight-in-exchange-with",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T10:43:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368672/first-lady-peng-liyuans-english-takes-spotlight-exchange-melania-trump"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During her visit to Washington with President Xi Jinping, China's first lady Peng Liyuan has generated online chatter due to her English exchanges with the US first lady Melania Trump, who did not have an interpreter. On Wednesday, the two leaders greeted Xi and Peng at Joint Base Andrews in a rare diplomatic encounter. After Xi and Peng disembarked the plane, the couples spoke with interpreters, but once they began walking along the red carpet, Peng and Melania engaged directly behind them. The women smiled and conversed until they reached the cameras for the welcoming ceremony. According to professional lip-reader Nicola Hickling, Peng inquired about Barron Trump, Donald Trump's youngest son, and indicated his height. Subsequently, Peng and Melania exchanged pleasantries without an interpreter for nearly a minute, with Peng mouthing the word \"wonderful.\" The White House announced that they would visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art on Thursday. Since Xi assumed office in 2013, Peng Liyuan has traveled internationally to promote Chinese music and culture, accompanying him on numerous overseas visits and participating in public welfare campaigns. Unlike the wives of many previous Chinese leaders, Peng has maintained a visible public presence. Known as \"Mama Peng\" by Chinese internet users, her English skills have been evident for years. In 2015, she delivered an English speech at a United Nations event in New York about girls' education and gender equality. Videos of her speech have recently resurfaced on social media, sparking discussion about her English fluency, given that she is not a native English speaker. While Peng's recent interaction with Melania highlighted the value of English on the global stage, China is once again debating the role of English in its education system. An internet-famous maths teacher named Tang Jiafeng recently called for English to be removed as a core school subject, arguing that Chinese children are pressured to learn English before mastering their native language. However, Hu Xijin, a former Global Times editor-in-chief, maintains that foreign-language skills remain vital in a globalized world, as English can broaden individuals' opportunities in international exchanges. This debate is not new; although English is one of the major subjects in China's school system alongside Chinese and maths, policymakers have explored ways to reduce its importance in some areas.",
  "summary": "China’s first lady Peng Liyuan has sparked online buzz over her English-language exchanges with the US first lady without an interpreter during her visit to Washington with President Xi Jinping this week. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and Peng at Joint Base Andrews in a rare diplomatic move. After Xi and Peng stepped off the plane, the two couples…",
  "key_points": [
    "Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump conversed directly without interpreters for nearly a minute.",
    "Peng inquired about Barron Trump's height during their exchange.",
    "Peng's English skills have been evident for years, as seen in her 2015 UN speech."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "First lady Peng Liyuan’s English takes the spotlight in exchange with Melania Trump",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/first-lady-peng-liyuans-english-takes-the-spotlight-in-exchange-with-9538284",
        "published": "2026-09-24T10:43:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}