Page 3 - ARUBA TODAY

U.S. NEWS A3
Wednesday 27 December 2017

In break with tradition, Trump doesn’t host a state dinner

In this Nov. 9, 2017 photo, President Donald Trump and Chinese of flag-waving children said. Xi also honored Trump state visit is also a massive
President Xi Jinping participate in a welcome ceremony at the chanting “welcome.” at a state banquet that undertaking and Trump has
Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Trump couldn’t seem Trump was then whisked included video highlights been running the govern-
to stop talking about the red carpets, military parades and fancy away for a private tour of from the Chinese leader’s ment with a bare-bones
dinners that were lavished upon him during “state visits” on his the Forbidden City that in- visit to Florida, along with staff. But Trump’s first state
recent tour of Asia. But Trump has yet to reciprocate in kind. cluded dinner. The meal clips from Trump’s trip and visitor will matter. “The oth-
was a first for a visiting for- the screening of a video er world leaders will pay
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) eign leader at Beijing’s his- of Trump’s granddaughter, attention to that,” Mc-
toric imperial palace since Arabella, singing in Chi- Bride said. Not since Calvin
Continued from Front of a military honor guard, the founding of modern nese. Coolidge in the 1920s has
a troop review and leader China. Trump also raved McBride said Trump’s deci- a president ended his first
Sanders gave no hints statements. The leaders about an outdoor opera sion to not extend a state year in office without host-
about which of Trump’s meet privately in the Oval performance. visit invitation could be ing a foreign leader for a
foreign counterparts are Office before they hold a The following morning partly because his first year state visit, according to the
being considered for the joint news conference in brought another welcome was a chaotic one, domi- White House Historical Asso-
diplomatic honor. the East Room or the Rose ceremony at the Great Hall nated by staff upheaval ciation. Coolidge assumed
A state visit typically is of- Garden. The evening ends of the People featuring a and lengthy negotiations office in 1923 after the sud-
fered as a sign of friendship with the foreign leader as military parade that Trump with Congress over health den death of President
and to showcase strate- the guest of honor at a lav- said was “magnificent.” He care and tax legislation. Warren G. Harding, and
gic ties between countries ish state dinner attended said “the world was watch- Separately, the first lady, was elected to a full term in
that are important to each by hundreds, including ing” and claimed to have who is responsible for plan- 1924. Coolidge didn’t hold
other, said Anita McBride, members of Congress, busi- received telephone calls ning a state dinner down to a state dinner until October
a veteran of three Repub- ness leaders, celebrities, about it from around the the smallest detail, didn’t 1926 for Queen Marie of
lican administrations who political donors and others. world. “Nothing you can officially relocate to the Romania, according to the
last served as chief of staff The visiting leader also has see is so beautiful,” Trump White House until June. A White House association.q
to first lady Laura Bush. lunch at the State Depart-
“The White House is the ment, and sometimes will
world stage to elevate address a joint meeting of
that,” she said. “These Congress.
occasions really go a Such visits are reserved for
long way to solidify and when the U.S. wants to put
strengthen relationships.” on its “best face” for a par-
Trump speaks often about ticular leader and ally, said
his relationships with many Peter Selfridge, who served
of his foreign counterparts, as a liaison between the
including Xi. Trump and White House and visiting
the Chinese leader met at foreign dignitaries as U.S.
Trump’s Florida estate in chief of protocol from 2014
April, and Trump treated to January 2017.
Xi to a full dinner — not the “It’s a really important ar-
aforementioned burger — row in a president’s quiver
and what Trump described when it comes to the dip-
as “the most beautiful lomatic nicety side of his
piece of chocolate cake.” work,” Selfridge said.
“President Xi was enjoying And not just for American
it,” the president reported. presidents. Knowing Trump
Trump has also met at enjoys flattery, Xi pulled out
the White House, some- all the stops to impress him
times over lunch as well as on that November stop in
abroad, with many of his Beijing. The visit opened
foreign counterparts. He with an arrival ceremony
recently put the figure at considered lavish even by
more than 100. Chinese standards, with
But nothing compares to a Trump and his wife, Mela-
state visit. The White House nia greeted at the airport
portion of the visit begins by Chinese and American
with an elaborate arrival dignitaries standing at at-
ceremony on the South tention, a band playing
Lawn, including the pomp military music and scores