“Art and culture have a remarkable ability to transcend borders, connect generations, and offer us a deeper appreciation for one another. It was an honor to welcome President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan and share with them the history, artistry, and traditions that help make America exceptional and our trans-Pacific relations so important,” said First Lady Melania Trump.

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Madame Peng Liyuan to Washington, DC, for a historic State Visit this week, which included a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn on Wednesday, September 24, 2026.

The State Arrival Ceremony featured the United States Armed Forces, including a military review, performances by the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, and “The Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and concluded with a military flyover featuring a B-2 Spirit and four F-22 Raptors.

Following the Ceremony, the First Lady hosted Madame Peng for a special cultural program at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, where they explored works representing centuries of artistic achievement and cultural exchange.

Their visit included a viewing of a notched jade disk dating to China’s Shang dynasty, followed by the Smithsonian’s celebrated Peacock Room, created by American artist James McNeill Whistler. The First Lady and Madame Peng also viewed an 18th-century Qianlong-period Chinese porcelain vase, showcasing the extraordinary craftsmanship and decorative sophistication of imperial Chinese porcelain.

The program concluded with the youth choir from Hope Chinese School performing “Jasmine Flower” and “Songs & Smiles” for the First Lady and Madame Peng. The children’s voices offered a fitting close to the visit, celebrating the beauty of artistic expression and the promise of the next generation.

The First Lady led preparations for the State Dinner in the East Room of the White House later that evening, bringing together American culinary traditions and subtle Chinese influences.

On Friday morning, the President and First Lady welcomed President Xi and Madame Peng to the White House for tea in the Red Room, continuing the traditions of hospitality that have long accompanied visits by foreign leaders and their spouses.

Following tea, the President and First Lady accompanied President Xi and Madame Peng to the National Archives, where they viewed important records and documents highlighting America’s 250th birthday as well as important chapters in the history of the relationship between the United States and China. The visit offered an opportunity to reflect upon the history shared between two nations while looking toward the future.

The State Visit concluded at the National Archives, where the President and First Lady bid farewell to President Xi and Madame Peng.