dexinwin WASHINGTON, September 25, 2026— The White House has released details of the menu, floral arrangements and entertainment planned for the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan.
The dinner was held in the East Room of the White House on September 24 during Xi’s state visit to the United States. The White House said the menu combined American ingredients with subtle Chinese influences, while the décor incorporated elements associated with Chinese culture alongside traditional White House furnishings.
A Menu Combining American Ingredients With Chinese Influences
The three-course menu was designed around American ingredients while incorporating selected flavors and ingredients familiar in Chinese and Asian cuisine.
The evening began with a toast featuring Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir,” an American sparkling wine. The White House said the choice paid tribute to the “Toast to Peace” shared by U.S. President Richard Nixon and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972. The same sparkling wine served on that occasion has continued to appear at White House functions.
The first course wasYellow Squash Velouté, accompanied by wild mushroom fricassée, crispy pancetta and scallion oil.
The White House described the soup as smooth and delicate, with seasonal yellow squash providing the main flavor. Wild mushrooms and fresh herbs added earthy notes, while crispy pancetta provided a savory contrast. Scallion oil was used as a finishing element.
The second course featuredSesame Crusted Sea Bass, served with braised baby bok choy, roasted garden eggplant and sauce verte.
The sea bass was coated with toasted sesame seeds, creating a fragrant crust while keeping the fish tender. Baby bok choy and roasted eggplant accompanied the fish, while the herb-based sauce provided acidity and freshness.
Dessert Featuring White House Honey
Dessert consisted ofVanilla Crémeux and White House Honey Ice Cream, accompanied by walnut frangipane and sour cherry confit.
The dessert combined smooth vanilla cream with a sour cherry center and walnut frangipane. The White House highlighted the use of honey harvested from its own beehives as one of the distinctive elements of the dessert.
The dessert was also presented in a fruit-inspired form, adding a visual element to the final course.
Red Becomes the Main Color of the Décor
The White House said the evening’s décor was designed to convey warmth and celebration.
Red played a central role in the visual design. According to the White House, the color was chosen in recognition of its longstanding cultural significance in Chinese history.
Large urns were filled with arrangements of red flowers, while the dining tables were covered with rich red linens. Dahlias and ranunculus were among the seasonal flowers used in the arrangements.
The tables also featured vermeil pieces from the White House collection and the Reagan State Service, combining traditional American presidential furnishings with elements inspired by Chinese culture.
The overall design therefore brought together two visual traditions: the formal style associated with a White House state dinner and selected colors and decorative elements associated with Chinese culture.
Military Bands and Christopher Macchio Perform
Music was another important part of the evening.
The program was headlined by American tenor Christopher Macchio, a classically trained singer who also performed at the 2025 presidential inauguration.
Military musicians from the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army also participated. The performers included“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band,“The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, theUnited States Army Chorusand theUnited States Army Strings.
The combination of classical performance and military music provided a formal setting for the state dinner.
More Than a Formal Dinner
The event was held against the backdrop of Xi’s September 23–25 state visit to the United States and his meetings with Trump in Washington.
The state dinner brought together members of the two countries’ official delegations as well as business leaders and government officials. The guest list included prominent figures from the technology, finance and business sectors.
The dinner itself was not simply a meal. Its menu, table settings, floral arrangements and entertainment were all part of the formal protocol surrounding a state visit.
In particular, the choice of Schramsberg sparkling wine connected the evening to the history of U.S.-China diplomatic exchanges dating back to Nixon’s 1972 visit to China. The use of red floral arrangements and selected Chinese-inspired ingredients added another layer of cultural reference.
A Blend of Two Culinary Traditions
The White House's description of the dinner emphasizes a combination rather than a single national culinary style.
American ingredients formed the foundation of the meal, while scallion oil, sesame, baby bok choy and other elements provided subtle Chinese or Asian influences. At the same time, the courses retained the structure and presentation associated with a formal Western state dinner.
The décor followed a similar approach. Traditional White House tableware and the Reagan State Service were combined with red floral arrangements and a color palette specifically connected by the White House to Chinese cultural history.
The result was a state dinner designed around both diplomatic protocol and cultural references, giving the evening a distinctive visual and culinary identity.
Symbolism Beyond the Dinner Table
State dinners traditionally serve a ceremonial role during visits by foreign heads of state. Details such as the menu, tableware, flowers and entertainment can provide additional ways for the host country to acknowledge the culture and history of the visiting delegation.
For the Xi-Trump dinner, the White House explicitly highlighted the connection between the menu and the history of U.S.-China relations, particularly through the reference to the 1972 “Toast to Peace.”
The dinner therefore combined formal American presidential traditions with selected Chinese cultural references, creating a setting that reflected the broader diplomatic context of Xi’s visit to Washington.
The White House's release of the menu and décor details also offered the public a closer look at an aspect of the state visit that usually remains secondary to official meetings: how diplomacy is expressed through food, design, music and ceremonial hospitality.
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