Trump Hosts Xi Jinping for High-Profile State Dinner Highlighting US-China Relations and Tech Leaders

President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan walk in the White House on September 24, 2026, in Washington, DC [Alex Brandon/AP]

United States President Donald Trump hosted China’s leader Xi Jinping for a state dinner boasting a tech-heavy guest list, alongside various billionaires, Washington powerbrokers, and business leaders. The festive gathering on Thursday night followed a full day of discussions between the two leaders during Xi's first visit to Washington in over a decade, marking their second meeting this year.

Earlier on Thursday, President Donald Trump praised their "great meeting" as both nations pursue increased dialogue despite ongoing disagreements regarding Iran, Taiwan, AI, and trade. Speaking at the dinner, President Donald Trump emphasized that despite representing different systems, the enduring ties between their people have never been stronger.

Throughout the three-day visit, President Donald Trump highlighted his personal relationship with China's President Xi Jinping. While daytime talks addressed tensions over Taiwan, trade, and artificial intelligence, the evening shifted to a showcase of the White House, including a tour of Marine One and a preview of a new ballroom construction project.

In his toast, China's President Xi Jinping remarked that the goals of making America great again and achieving China's national rejuvenation can be mutually reinforcing. The exclusive guest list featured prominent figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, following President Donald Trump's unusual gesture of personally greeting China's President Xi Jinping and his wife upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews.