China serves Trump a very Americanized Chinese meal at its official state dinner

2025-04-28 04:55:52admin

For China's official state dinner hosting U.S. President Donald Trump, the Asian superpower decided on a Chinese menu that looks...kind of American.

The Thursday evening affair, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, was a glitzy event, attended by the country's business leaders.

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Thanks to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun who was present, and posted the menu on Weibo, we know what they ate.

Credit: lei jun/weibo

The Menu

Starter:

Hors d’Oeuvres

Main:

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Coconut Flavored Chicken Soup
Seafood Chowder
Kung Pao Chicken
Stewed Beef Steak in Tomato Sauce
Braised Vegetables in Premium Broth
Grouper Fillets in Hot Chili Oil

Dessert:

Pastries
Fruits & Ice Cream
Coffee/Tea

Drink:

Red Wine Great Wall 2009, Hebei China
White Wine Great Wall 2011, Hebei China

The official invite Credit: lei jun/weibo

The items are, by Chinese standards, unadventurous to say the least. Kung Pao chicken, a stir-fry chicken dish, is technically Chinese -- but if last night's version didn't come with spicy Sichuan peppers, it's more likely the Panda Express version, and not traditional.

Stewed beef steak in tomato sauce is the biggest offender.

But perhaps stewed beef steak in tomato sauce is the biggest offender. For Trump, who's been known to like his steaks well-done with ketchup, it probably suited him quite well.

Citing a Chinese People's Dailyreport, the South China Morning Postnoted that chefs designing a menu for an official dinner like this one would have taken into account a guest's "tastes, age and state of health."

Perhaps that's why for lunch with the U.S. leader earlier this week, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe served up a well-done hamburger at a golf club. Just the way he likes it.