Tech titans join Trump-Xi White House state dinner
SCMP · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
US President Donald Trump hosted a state dinner at the White House on Thursday in honor of Chinese President Xi Jinping, drawing senior US officials and high-profile business figures to Washington. Among the most closely watched guests were Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and AMD chief executive Lisa Su, who according to one report were seated at the head table with the two presidents and their wives. The summit’s public readouts from both Washington and Beijing did not directly mention US semiconductor export controls, even though those restrictions remain largely in place. The mix of political and corporate attendees highlighted how trade, technology and market access remained central concerns around the visit.
Key Points
- The White House state dinner was held on Thursday in Washington, where Trump honored Xi and welcomed invited guests from government and business circles
- Reuters photos and the White House guest list reported by The Standard showed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, his wife Lori Huang, and Apple board chairman Tim Cook attending
- SCMP reported Huang and AMD chief Lisa Su had seats at the head table alongside the two presidents and their wives
- SCMP said chip executives were seeking progress on restoring access to the Chinese market, but summit readouts contained no direct mention of export controls
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC the US had taken off the table export controls involving national security issues during trade talks
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the dinner guest list offered a visible sign that major technology and consumer companies still see China-related policy as commercially critical, even when formal summit statements stay vague. The limited public emphasis on chip controls suggests business access and national security restrictions remain intertwined, with implications for regional supply chains and investor expectations