Melania Trump and China's first lady tour Smithsonian museum during diplomatic visit

Melania Trump and China's first lady Peng Liyuan toured the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art on Thursday, marking their first public meeting in nearly a decade during a high-profile diplomatic visit to Washington. The outing showcased cultural ties between the U.S. and China, with crowds waving flags outside the museum. The first ladies viewed the Peacock Room and a Whistler painting, while their interactions were closely watched for diplomatic signals and style choices. Their last meeting was in 2017 in Beijing, and Peng's previous White House visit occurred in 2015. Peng has taken a more public role than predecessors, while Melania Trump prefers a lower profile. The museum, featuring over 46,000 objects, has faced scrutiny from the Trump administration over exhibit content. Peng is also a WHO goodwill ambassador for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.