Trump criticized Obama’s state dinner for Xi before holding his own

President Trump, who had publicly criticized former President Barack Obama for hosting Chinese leaders at state dinners years earlier, personally welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday and hosted a state dinner for Xi on Thursday. The visits and ceremonial events marked a continuation of high-profile diplomacy between the United States and China.

According to reports, Trump had repeatedly criticized Obama’s practice of holding state dinners for visiting Chinese presidents more than a decade prior to organizing the recent event for Xi. In 2016, he voiced opposition to such ceremonies, beginning a statement with, “We shouldn’t…,” underscoring his earlier stance against the pageantry of state hospitality.

This sequence — from public criticism of state dinners to presiding over one — emphasizes a shift between Trump’s pre-presidential commentary and his actions while in office. Trump’s personal greeting at Joint Base Andrews and the subsequent formal dinner follow established protocols for hosting visiting heads of state, even as they contrast with his earlier remarks.

The events reflect the broader diplomatic importance attributed to visits by major foreign leaders and the role state dinners play in bilateral relations. They also draw attention to how leaders’ positions on protocol and symbolism can differ once they assume the responsibilities of office.