President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a lavish multi-course bilateral lunch during a high-stakes summit in Beijing, but the culinary displays of cooperation were later met with rigid security protocols as the American delegation prepared to depart the country.
While the two leaders discussed trade and regional security over a meal featuring both traditional Chinese flavors and Western techniques, the atmosphere of hospitality stopped short of the tarmac, where US staff were ordered to dispose of all electronics and gifts received during the visit.
The menu for the working lunch was an elaborate affair, starting with minced codfish in seafood soup and crispy, stir-fried lobster balls.
The main courses included pan-seared beef fillet stuffed with morel mushrooms, Kung Pao chicken and scallops, and braised seasonal greens served with bamboo shoots, mushrooms and beans.
The meal was rounded out with stewed beef in a bun and steamed pork and shrimp dumplings, followed by a dessert of chocolate brownies, fruit, ice cream and coffee or tea.
However, the camaraderie of the dining room did not extend to the flight home.
As the American delegation prepared to board Air Force One, staff members were required to surrender every item provided by their Chinese hosts.
Credentials, commemorative pins and burner phones issued to the delegation for the duration of the trip were collected by security personnel and discarded in a bin at the bottom of the aircraft’s stairs.
China’s President Xi Jinping shakes hands with US President Donald Trump at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People
China’s President Xi Jinping makes a toast during the state banquet
Despite the public appearance of the president enjoying local delicacies, US security protocols typically dictate a far more controlled experience
As the American delegation prepared to board Air Force One, staff members were required to surrender every item provided by their Chinese hosts
Credentials, commemorative pins and burner phones issued to the delegation for the duration of the trip were collected by security personnel and discarded in a bin at the bottom of the aircraft’s stairs
While the two leaders discussed trade and regional security over a meal featuring both traditional Chinese flavors and Western techniques, the atmosphere of hospitality stopped short of the tarmac, where US staff were ordered to dispose of all electronics and gifts received during the visit
The strict security measures at the airport and the high level of food preservation underscore the deep-seated mutual suspicion that remains a hallmark of US-China relations, even amidst the most formal displays of diplomatic friendship
According to standard procedure, nothing obtained in China was permitted onto the plane to mitigate the risk of surveillance or cyber-intelligence threats.
The suspicion surrounding the trip may have even extended to the food served at the Great Hall of the People.
Despite the public appearance of the president enjoying local delicacies, US security protocols typically dictate a far more controlled dining experience.
Former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro wrote in his 2005 memoir, ‘Standing Next to History,’ that nothing edible is allowed near the president unless the Secret Service knows exactly where it originated and who handled it.
Petro noted that when the President attends a state banquet, he is often eating the same dishes as other guests, but his specific portion has been prepared by White House stewards.
For events in foreign countries, these stewards often go as far as sourcing ingredients in the United States and bringing them abroad to recreate the local menu.
Petro described the process as diplomatic theater, where the president appears to be participating in a genuine culinary exchange while eating food prepared exclusively by his own team.
These stewards often dress to match the local waitstaff, blending into the environment while ensuring the president’s plate never leaves their sight.
The White House did not respond to inquiries regarding whether the President consumed the food prepared by the Chinese chefs or if his meal was a staged American substitute.
The strict security measures at the airport and the high level of food preservation underscore the deep-seated mutual suspicion that remains a hallmark of US-China relations, even amidst the most formal displays of diplomatic friendship.
