Trump gifts Chinese leader Xi a bald eagle statue at White House dinner, hails US-China ties

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Thursday, September 24, presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a bald eagle statue during a state dinner at the White House, pairing the symbolic gift with remarks describing the current state of US-China relations in positive terms.

Trump said the sculpture was designed in collaboration with first lady Melania Trump and an American artist. During the dinner, Trump said the two countries had “never gotten along better” despite differences between their political systems.

Trump presents Xi with bald eagle sculpture

Trump unveiled the roughly three-foot-tall statue before guests gathered for the state dinner in the White House East Room. The sculpture depicts a bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, perched on a branch above a podium.

Introducing the gift, Trump said, “I present President Xi with a gift made by an extraordinary American artist, one of the greatest in the world and designed in personal collaboration with Melania and myself.” 

Trump then described the significance of the bald eagle for the United States and his hopes for it to be displayed in China soon. “The bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America. We hope it'll find a nice place, a wonderful place in Beijing,” he said. Xi stood and applauded after Trump presented the gift.

The exchange formed part of a state dinner held after a day of meetings and ceremonial events between the two leaders. The White House said that the dinner brought together the official US and Chinese delegations, government officials and business leaders.

Trump also used his remarks to describe the relationship between Washington and Beijing in notably positive terms. "As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we've never gotten along better.” He added, “together, we can continue to build a relationship that promotes prosperity and security for future generations.”

Xi announces two pandas for Zoo Atlanta

However, Xi did not present a reciprocal gift during the dinner. The Chinese leader announced that China would send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta. He described the animals as symbols of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

Xi said that “the giant panda have been an envoy of friendship between the Chinese and the Americans," before announcing that two pandas would soon travel to Atlanta. “In a few days, two pandas - Ping Ping and Fu Shuang - will come to their new home in Zoo Atlanta and meet with the American people,” Xi said.

The pandas, a male named Ping Ping and a female named Fu Shuang, were born in China in 2020 and are expected to arrive from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Zoo Atlanta had previously returned its last pandas to China in 2024, leaving no pandas in the United States.

Panda exchanges have long been featured in US-China diplomacy for decades. China sent two pandas to the United States following President Richard Nixon’s landmark 1972 visit to Beijing, beginning a practice that became associated with what is commonly known as “panda diplomacy.”