Trump hosts Xi Jinping at White House state dinner
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan for an official dinner at the White House, featuring a menu that blends American ingredients with subtle Chinese influences. The meal began with a toast of Schramsberg Blanc De Noir, honoring the historic 1972 "Toast to Peace" between Nixon and Zhou Enlai. The three-course menu included a yellow pumpkin velouté with wild mushroom fricassee as the first course, followed by sesame-crusted sea bass with bok choy and garden eggplant, and concluded with a dessert of creamy vanilla and honey ice cream with sour cherry confit. Entertainment featured tenor Christopher Macchio, who performed at Trump's inauguration, alongside US Marine and Army musicians. The dinner's decor drew inspiration from the cultural significance of the color red in Chinese history, featuring red flowers, tablecloths, and dahlias, with the Reagan State Service china displayed. Xi's three-day US visit also covers trade, geopolitical issues including wars in Iran and Russia, and artificial intelligence.