# Trump Gives Xi White House Tour, Mocks Biden with Autopen Jab

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/trump-gives-xi-white-house-tour-mocks-biden-with-autopen-jab
- Published: 2026-09-26T19:06:13.997928+00:00
- Topics: trump, xi-jinping, us-china-relations, state-dinner, white-house-ballroom

## What the left says
- Mocking a predecessor in front of a foreign dictator prioritizes personal grievance over national dignity, according to critics including a former Trump deputy press secretary.
- The lavish helipad tour and gilded Oval Office displays came alongside no clear, concrete deliverables for American farmers, workers, or security interests from the summit.
- Substantive issues like Taiwan's status, China's support for Iran, and AI safety cooperation remain unresolved despite the pageantry.
- The optics of a glamorous state dinner and Eric Trump's celebratory social media posts struck many as tone-deaf given ongoing concerns about the cost of living for everyday Americans.

## What the right says
- Showcasing new White House improvements like the granite helipad and ballroom construction to a visiting head of state reflects pride in projects Trump has championed during his term.
- The Supreme Court's recent ruling allowing the ballroom construction to proceed validates the administration's position that the project is legally sound and privately funded rather than a taxpayer burden.
- Trump's lighthearted jab referencing the autopen controversy reflects long-standing, legitimate questions his supporters have raised about who was actually running the government during Biden's presidency.
- Hosting a formal state dinner and high-profile summit with Xi demonstrates presidential engagement on the world stage with America's most consequential geopolitical rival.

## Common ground
- Xi Jinping's state visit included a formal White House tour, a state dinner, and discussion of trade and security issues.
- The Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of allowing the White House ballroom construction to continue.
- China announced it will send a pair of pandas to a zoo in Atlanta as part of the visit.
- Major outstanding issues including Taiwan, Iran, and AI cooperation were not definitively resolved during the summit.

## Sources
- [AllSides](https://www.allsides.com/news/2026-09-26-0700/donald-trump-trump-goes-script-state-dinner-ballroom-invite) (Center)
- [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-xi-no-substance_n_6ab68b65e4b0a4e39405be27) (Left)
- [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-joe-biden-autopen-portrait-xi-jinping_n_6ab68a32e4b075a3d285ab8d) (Left)
- [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/eric-trump-donald-trump-state-dinner-xi_n_6ab60ebbe4b0bad9a646ac18) (Left)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/24/trump-shows-off-helipad-xi-jinping-calls-him-an-expert-stone/) (Lean Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6111055-donald-trump-xi-jinping-summit-white-house-helipad-tour/) (Center)

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