First Lady Melania Trump released the White House schedule for Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit, saying a state dinner will be held at the White House on Sept. 24 — a detail the Office of the First Lady circulated ahead of the visit. The keyword first ladies state dinner style appears as part of the event planning notes.
The White House itinerary circulated by the First Lady’s office says Mrs. Trump will host a formal State Dinner in the East Room the evening of Sept. 24, following an arrival ceremony and a joint visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art with Madame Peng Liyuan, according to White House material summarized by media coverage.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit is scheduled from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25, confirming the timing of the White House events and the state dinner night, Reuters reported after China’s foreign ministry announced the dates.
The First Lady’s office said it would release additional details on the State Dinner on Sept. 23; the schedule circulated to press lists also lists a Smithsonian museum visit earlier that evening and a Friday tea and National Archives viewing to close the visit, as reported by White House briefings summarized in local coverage.
What this means for first ladies state dinner style: designers and protocol observers will be watching choices for the East Room dinner, where past first ladies have used evening dress to reflect diplomatic themes. The Office of the First Lady has said it will share fashion and event details before the dinner, giving style commentators time to place any outfit choices in the context of U.S.-China protocol.
For background on the summit and visit timing, see reporting on Xi’s Washington trip and prior coverage of Mrs. Trump’s recent public engagements.
Related internal reading: Xi Jinping in New Delhi for BRICS; U.S. state visit set for Sept. 24, per Politico and Melania Trump delivers remarks at U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Sources
- Dallas Express — outlined the First Lady’s circulated schedule and reported that “the couples will hold a State Dinner in the East Room.”
- Reuters — confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping “will pay a state visit to the US from September 23 to 25,” establishing the visit dates.
- Politico — reported the Sept. 24 summit meeting day and scheduling details around the visit.
