Trump goes 'off script' at WH state dinner, invites Xi Jinping and guests to tour ballroom site

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump went off script during a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, September 24, inviting guests to visit the construction site of the new White House ballroom.

Trump extended the invitation while addressing the official US and Chinese delegations gathered in the East Room of the White House.

The president said the guests would be the first to enter the unfinished ballroom and described the construction site as clean and ready for a visit.

Trump invites Xi to tour new White House ballroom

Trump said he wanted to "go off script just for a second" before inviting those in attendance to visit the site.

He said the new ballroom was about a year away from completion and told guests they would see something he expected them to like.

The president then extended the invitation to those who wanted to enter the construction area, describing it as a "nice and clean and sparkly" site and saying it would be an honor to have the guests visit.

“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. It's all lit up, and it looks beautiful. It's one year away from completion,” Trump said.

The president added that, “you'll be the first people to step foot on that, and we'll do that maybe after we're finished with the entertainment tonight. Anybody wants to walk into a construction site that's nice and clean and sparkling, it's our honor to have you do so.”

The planned ballroom is approximately 90,000 square feet and is intended to accommodate substantially more guests than the current East Room. Trump has previously said the ballroom would cost about $400 million and would be funded through private donations.

The project has also been the subject of disputes over its total cost and funding.

Xi state dinner highlights ongoing US-China talks

Trump’s invitation to visit the ballroom came during a state dinner marking Xi's visit to Washington, where Trump and the Chinese president held talks on issues including trade, technology, and artificial intelligence.

Xi thanked Trump and first lady Melania Trump for hosting him and Peng, saying through an interpreter, "Thank you, Mr President and Mrs Trump, for extending to my wife and me your gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. You make us feel truly at home."

Xi also addressed broader US-China relations, saying that "I would also like to extend my sincere greetings to Americans from all sectors of society who care about China-US relations and support the further growth of our bilateral ties."

The dinner included members of the US and Chinese delegations, as well as senior administration officials and business leaders. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and several prominent technology executives were among those in attendance.