Trump Gifts Xi Jinping Eagle Sculpture, Invites Tour of New White House Ballroom
The president presented the gift during a state dinner and offered guests a preview of the unfinished ballroom.
President Trump presented Chinese leader Xi Jinping with a sculpture of a bald eagle during a state dinner on Thursday night, describing the gift as a symbol of American spirit. Trump also invited guests at the dinner to tour the White House ballroom, which is currently under construction.
"The bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America," Trump said, according to remarks released by the White House. "And we hope it will find a nice place, a wonderful place, in Beijing."
Trump stated that the sculpture was created by an American artist and was designed in collaboration with himself and first lady Melania Trump. He indicated that the gift was intended for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan.
Before the presentation of the gift, Trump invited attendees to step through a curtain to view the unfinished ballroom. "As a special treat in honor of President Xi and Madame Peng, I’d like to invite everyone in the room to visit through that beautiful curtain in the back door," Trump said. "It’s all lit up and it looks beautiful."
He added that the guests would be the first to enter the space. "Anybody who wants to walk into a construction site that’s nice and clean and sparkling, it’s our honor to have you do so."