Trump Shows Xi Marine One and New Granite Helipad at White House
Trump gave Xi Jinping a tour of Marine One and a newly built granite helipad during the Chinese leader's state visit to Washington.
President Donald Trump gave Chinese President Xi Jinping a tour of his Marine One helicopter and a newly constructed granite landing pad at the White House on Thursday, part of Xi's state visit and his first trip to Washington in more than a decade.
As the two leaders walked along the South Lawn driveway, Trump asked Xi if he wanted to see the helicopter. "We had a great meeting," Trump said as they approached the helipad, where a green presidential helicopter was parked. Xi did not respond.
Trump gestured toward the presidential seal on the helipad, prompting Xi to nod. The two men then climbed aboard the helicopter, which is called Marine One when the president is on board, and could be seen speaking with the pilots. They also appeared to point toward a large construction site nearby, where Trump's planned ballroom is being built.
Trump has spoken for weeks about rushing to complete the landing area in time for Xi's visit, setting up the opportunity to show it off.
After the tour, reporters shouted questions about the leaders' Oval Office meeting earlier in the day, asking whether they had discussed Iran, Taiwan or artificial intelligence. Trump focused on a different subject.
"He likes granite," Trump said of Xi. "He's an expert on stone, aside from many other things -- and he loves good granite."