President Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a state dinner that doubled as a showcase of American corporate power, with Silicon Valley's elite, Wall Street titans, and key political figures filling the East Room. The guest list, released by the White House, read like a who's who of the technology and finance sectors, underscoring the high stakes of the visit amid simmering disputes over trade, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan.
Among the black-tie attendees were Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Also present were Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, and former Apple CEO Tim Cook. The presence of chip executives like Huang was particularly notable, as Washington's efforts to curb China's access to advanced semiconductors collides with the allure of the vast Chinese market.
The dinner capped a day of formal talks between the two leaders, who addressed contentious issues before turning to the ceremonial aspects of the state visit. Trump had earlier touted the event as the hottest ticket in town, telling reporters at the United Nations General Assembly that "everyone wants to be there." When asked who had secured an invitation, he replied, "Sort of everybody," adding that the list included "the entire tech world, the entire banking world and a lot more."
The final roster included not only business magnates but also members of Trump's Cabinet, several Supreme Court justices—John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh—along with lawmakers, media personalities, and several of Trump's family members. French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, attended with his son Alexandre, adding an international flair to the gathering.
The dinner itself was held in the East Room, with guests dining on fine china from the Reagan administration. First lady Melania Trump greeted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at the entrance, wearing a tuxedo-inspired ensemble with an oversized bow.
The heavy representation from the tech sector came as competition over AI and advanced computing loomed large over the summit. The two leaders reportedly found common ground on the need for AI oversight but differed on global governance rules, a dynamic that has been a focal point of their discussions. The state visit also occurred against a backdrop of broader media coverage controversies, with some networks boycotting the White House pool during Xi's trip, a move that drew sharp criticism from Trump.
As the evening wound down, the dinner's blend of political and corporate power signaled the intertwined nature of diplomacy and business in the Trump era. The event also highlighted the ongoing tensions over trade and technology that continue to define the U.S.-China relationship, with both sides seeking to manage their rivalry while courting economic engagement.
