Trump shows Xi his Marine One chopper and new White House helipad

President Donald Trump gave Chinese President Xi Jinping a 20-minute tour of the White House South Lawn on Thursday, showcasing his Marine One helicopter and a new granite helipad, following a 90-minute Oval Office meeting during Xi's first U.S. state visit in 11 years. The tour occurred amid discussions on thorny issues including artificial intelligence risks, Taiwan, trade tariffs, and the war in Iran. Trump showed Xi the helicopter's interior, pointed to the presidential seal on the landing pad, and gestured toward a ballroom under construction, while also displaying West Wing photos and an autopen depiction mocking former President Biden. Trump said Xi "loves good granite" and called him "an expert on stone." The display came as Trump has built his midterm messaging around slamming Democrats as "communists," and he noted crews rushed to finish the helipad in time for the visit.