Trump’s state dinner for Xi features sea bass and a long list of tech titans

Asked on Monday night who’d be in attendance, the president responded, “sort of everybody”, adding, “I would say you have the entire tech world, the entire banking world and a lot more”.

At the state dinner, Xi said China and the US must explore a new approach for major countries to get along well with each other.

The two countries must act as responsible major powers, he said. 

The dinner was expected to showcase “the positive vibes surrounding the visit” and indicate that “the president is very focused on signalling warmth and a close personal connection with Xi,” said Edgard Kagan, senior adviser and chair in China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

First Lady Melania Trump’s office says she helped with the preparations for the dinner, whose menu features a first course of yellow squash velouté with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, crispy pancetta and drizzled scallion oil.

After that, guests will get sesame-crusted sea bass with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and a sauce verte. Dessert is vanilla crémeux with sour cherry confit and walnut frangipane, as well as ice cream with honey from the White House.