Trump hosts Xi for state dinner as pomp masks tensions

China's President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump pose on the North Portico steps of the White House. Photo / Brendan Smialowski

US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a lavish state dinner at the White House on Thursday, after a day of pomp and ceremony that masked deep tensions between the rival superpowers.

Numerous US tech titans attended the banquet, including Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Sam Altman of OpenAI, underscoring that trade and artificial intelligence were high on the agenda for Xi’s visit.

Protesters gathered outside the White House chanting slogans including “Xi Jinping is not welcome” and “Free Hong Kong,” as Trump and his wife Melania welcomed Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for dinner.