Was Trump Envious of the Great Hall of the People?... "America Should Have Such a Banquet Hall Too"

During his state visit to China, U.S. President Donald Trump, who attended a summit and state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, once again emphasized the need for building a large banquet hall at the White House—a project that continues to stir controversy.

On May 15 (local time), after concluding his visit to China, President Trump posted a photo on his social media platform Truth Social, showing himself and President Xi Jinping walking side-by-side against the majestic backdrop of the Great Hall of the People.

Trump raised a photo of the Great Hall of the People in China while insisting on building a banquet hall at the White House / Photo by Yonhap News

In the caption, President Trump wrote, "China has a (state-run) large banquet hall, and America should have one too," adding, "Construction is currently underway, progressing ahead of schedule, and it will be the best facility of its kind in the United States."

President Trump went on to say, "Thank you for all the support given to push this project forward," and noted that "the expected opening date is around September 2028."

President Trump also described President Xi in the photo as "one of the great leaders of the world."

Last October, President Trump began construction of a banquet hall at the White House with a capacity for 1,000 guests, demolishing the historic East Wing, but recently a court has put the project on hold.

In a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), which argued that the new banquet hall would damage the site's historical value, Federal Judge Richard Leon ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, and the case is currently under appeal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.