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Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump concluded their three-day summit Friday as live television coverage of White House events resumed following a federal judge's decision to temporarily block the administration's ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
The return of the television pool provided the first full live broadcast access to presidential events in days as Xi wraps up his visit to Washington.
Xi's final day began at the White House where Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, for tea.
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In brief televised remarks in the White House Red Room, Trump told reporters, "We've had a a tremendous visit from two spectacular people. We've really enjoyed it, and I think we've made tremendous strides ... Very positive for both countries."
He added, "So, thank you very much and we appreciate the fair coverage. It's been very fair. We appreciate it."
Trump's Red Room comments thanking reporters for their "fair coverage" came a day after he sharply criticized major television networks amid the ongoing dispute over White House press access.
Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social, in part, "CNN and MSDNC, to show you how fake they are, today refused to cover one of the Biggest and Most Beautiful Events to take place in many years, the arrival at the White House of the Highly Respected President of China, Xi Jinping, and his beautiful wife, Madam Peng. The event was magnificent — Actually made for Television but, because they’re Fake News, and because they knew how good it would be, they didn’t want credit to be given to “TRUMP,” they refused to be there. That’s why they have such poor Ratings."
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Trump Once Said He Would Only Offer Xi a 'Double-Size Big Mac'
The warmth of Trump's reception for Xi stood in contrast to comments he made more than a decade ago, before entering the White House. During Xi's September 2015 U.S. visit, Trump criticized the Obama administration's decision to host a state dinner for the Chinese leader and suggested the delegation should be taken to McDonald's instead.
In a television appearance with then-Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, Trump, then three months into his 2016 presidential campaign, quipped that Xi might be worth a "double-size Big Mac."
"I would not be throwing him a dinner. I'd get him a McDonald's hamburger, and I'd say we've got to get down to work ... because you can't continue to devalue. You know we'll give him a steak dinner, and what he's done is sucked all of our jobs and he's sucked the money right out of our country," Trump said on "The O'Reilly Factor."
“I would give him a double, probably a double-size Big Mac,” he added in the 2015 interview that was widely circulated this week on social media.
In 2026, however, the Chinese president was treated to the full pageantry of a state visit, including a White House state dinner, a tour of Marine One, private meetings and a trip to the National Archives to view America's founding documents.
The White House banquet Thursday night featured a menu far removed from the fast-food meal Trump once jokingly proposed, with guests served dishes including yellow squash velouté and sesame-crusted sea bass.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email on Friday afternoon for comment.
Trump Gives Xi a Tour of American History
After tea, the two presidents traveled together to the National Archives. Trump showed Xi some of America's founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as part of a visit designed to highlight the nation's history during its 250th anniversary celebrations.
“Just as our ancestors reached across the ocean centuries ago to trade, to learn, and to build a better world, our two countries do really the same thing, and we’re very proud of it,” Trump said.
The National Archives stop served as the closing public event of a summit that has featured lavish ceremony, a state dinner and displays of warmth between the leaders of the world's two largest economies. Trump said he wanted Xi to see "some of the greatest treasures" of American history while also viewing artifacts reflecting the long and often complicated relationship between the United States and China.
“We’re just comparing,” Trump told reporters at the National Archives. “Ours goes 250 years, which is great, and we’re proud of it. But theirs goes 6,000 years.”
He added: “There’s a little difference between 6,000 and 250, but we’re very proud of our 250.”
Trump, Xi Part Ways After Three-Day Visit
The world leaders have said the visit has produced an extension of the current U.S.-China trade framework and fresh commitments to maintain stable relations. Xi departed Washington after the Archives tour.
“The highest courtesies, the most meticulous arrangements,” Xi told reporters at the White House. “This visit is very successful, and we also feel very satisfied.”
The two leaders also held a 90-minute closed-door meeting on Thursday. According to a Chinese government readout, they discussed a range of international issues, including the Middle East, Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula.
The White House has released few details about the private talks. Speaking to reporters at the National Archives on Friday, however, Trump said he and Xi discussed the war in Iran, without elaborating.
"We had a great meeting. We had a really great meeting. Great for the farmers. Great for everybody," Trump said.
Shortly afterward, Trump and Xi exchanged a final handshake outside the Archives before departing in separate motorcades, bringing the Chinese leader's three-day state visit to a close.
The diplomatic pageantry unfolded against a backdrop of protest. Activists gathered near the White House throughout Xi's visit, criticizing China's policies in Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and toward Taiwan while calling for greater political and religious freedoms.
Protesters followed the summit's final stop to the National Archives on Friday, gathering behind security barriers ahead of Trump and Xi's arrival. Despite being kept several blocks from the leaders, their chants echoed through the surrounding streets.
The anti-Xi demonstrators in Washington were joined by groups of pro-Beijing supporters, some waving Chinese flags and calling for closer U.S.-China relations.
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When Will Trump and Xi Meet Again?
Around 1 p.m., Xi and his wife boarded their Air China Boeing 747-8 and departed for their 15-hour flight back to Beijing.
Xi extended an invitation for Trump and first lady Melania Trump to visit China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen in November, while noting the two leaders could meet again a month later at the G20 summit at Trump National Doral Miami.
"We do welcome Mr. President and the first lady to visit China," Xi said.
In a Friday afternoon post on Truth Social, Trump described the summit as a success that strengthened ties between the two countries. He confirmed that he expects to meet Xi again at the APEC summit n November and at the G20 gathering in December, adding that more progress is expected in the months ahead.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Samantha Beech and Anthony Murray.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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