Donald Trump will end the first year of his presidency without hosting a state dinner
Donald Trump will become the first US president in nearly a century to end their first year without hosting a state dinner.
Running for office, the US leader criticised events like them, although they are viewed by many as as an important diplomatic tool. Often they include a showy arrival ceremony and an elaborate dinner at the White House.
Mr Trump disparaged former President Barack Obama for holding state dinners, and he was particularly critical when he Mr Obama held a state dinner during a 2015 visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“I would not be throwing [Xi] a dinner,” Mr Trump said at the time. “I would get him a McDonald’s hamburger and say we’ve got to get down to work.”
But earlier this year, on a tour in Asia, Mr Trump boasted about the red carpets, military parades and fancy dinners that Asian leaders had provided for him.
“Magnificent,” he declared at one point on the trip to describe an event that had been hosted in his honour.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said there was no “singular reason” why Mr Trump is yet to extend a state visit invitation, adding that Mr Trump’s administration hopes to schedule a state visit early next year.
Ms Sanders did not say who was being considered for the diplomatic honour.
A state visit typically is offered as a sign of friendship and to showcase strategic ties between countries that are important to each other, said Anita McBride, a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush.
“The White House is the world stage to elevate that,” she said. “These occasions really go a long way to solidify and strengthen relationships.”
“I would not be throwing [Xi] a dinner,” Mr Trump said at the time. “I would get him a McDonald’s hamburger and say we’ve got to get down to work.”
But earlier this year, on a tour in Asia, Mr Trump boasted about the red carpets, military parades and fancy dinners that Asian leaders had provided for him.
“Magnificent,” he declared at one point on the trip to describe an event that had been hosted in his honour.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said there was no “singular reason” why Mr Trump is yet to extend a state visit invitation, adding that Mr Trump’s administration hopes to schedule a state visit early next year.
Ms Sanders did not say who was being considered for the diplomatic honour.
A state visit typically is offered as a sign of friendship and to showcase strategic ties between countries that are important to each other, said Anita McBride, a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush.
“The White House is the world stage to elevate that,” she said. “These occasions really go a long way to solidify and strengthen relationships.”
Mr Xi also honoured Mr Trump at a state banquet, playing video highlights from the Chinese leader’s visit to Florida, along with clips from Mr Trump’s trip and the screening of a video of the American President’s granddaughter, Arabella, singing in Chinese.
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