Overview
- At a state banquet in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, President Trump raised a glass with Xi Jinping and appeared to take a sip during a formal toast, and video of the moment spread widely online.
- There has been no official clarification about what was in the glass, and many viewers interpreted the move as a ceremonial nod rather than a break from his no-alcohol practice.
- Talks around the banquet focused on trade, Taiwan and regional security, and White House officials described the first day of the summit as positive.
- Both governments backed keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for the flow of energy, and they discussed more Chinese purchases of U.S. farm goods and increased investment.
- The moment drew outsized attention because Trump has long avoided alcohol after his brother’s struggle with alcoholism, and in diplomacy a brief sip during a toast can signal respect without a full drink.