Trump Tours White House Ballroom Site With President Xi

President Donald Trump toured a new ballroom construction site and a recently opened helipad with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. The project follows the demolition of the White House East Wing. Trump cited the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as both inspiration and competition, claiming his 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be the most beautiful in the world and will top the Chinese landmark, which is significantly larger at 1.8 million square feet.

During the tour, Trump described President Xi as an expert on stone, though Xi remained expressionless. The visit was part of a broader summit that concluded Thursday evening with a state dinner hosted by Donald and Melania Trump in the East Room of the White House.

The dinner featured a three-course menu blending American ingredients with Chinese influences, such as sesame-crusted sea bass and baby bok choy. The room was decorated with red linens and blossoms to honor Chinese culture, and guests toasted with California sparkling wine used during Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to Beijing. Entertainment included performances by opera singer Christopher Macchio and musicians from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.