Trump’s Visit to Zhongnanhai Gardens

During his visit to Beijing’s Zhongnanhai Gardens on Friday, President Trump was captivated by the stunning roses he encountered, alongside President Xi Jinping.

“These are the most beautiful roses ever. I asked him, ‘Can you get some for the rose garden?’ And he said yes. I’ve honestly never seen roses this big!” Trump exclaimed on the final day of his significant trip.

Mr. Xi shared insights about the garden’s history with the help of an interpreter and vowed to send seeds after Trump praised the flowers enthusiastically.

“We’ll send some seeds of the Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) because the president wants to plant them in his rose garden,” the interpreter relayed, according to reports.

Trump reacted positively, saying, “I like it. It’s great.”

Xi elaborated, explaining that Zhongnanhai, spanning 1,500 acres, serves as the operational headquarters for the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, including his own residence.

“Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, many leaders have worked and lived here, including Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping,” he mentioned.

Throughout the tour, photos captured Trump’s fascination, and Xi even encouraged him to interact with some ancient trees.

“As we made our way in, we paused to see some remarkable trees, including one that is about 490 years old. There are trees here that are over 1,000 years old,” Xi explained, reflecting on the trip.

“The president was curious about everything, including the Chinese roses we discussed, and I agreed to send him those seeds as a gift.”

Trump called the location a “wonderful place.”

Xi’s invitation to the highly secured Zhongnanhai complex was a gesture of thanks for Trump’s hospitality during his time at Mar-a-Lago in 2017, despite this visit happening later in Trump’s first term.

Following the Kuomintang’s defeat in the civil war, Mao Zedong chose Zhongnanhai to extend his influence toward the Imperial Palace, reflecting the communist ideal of “serving the people.”

Since President Nixon’s groundbreaking visit in 1972 to meet Mao, only a few American leaders have visited this fortified compound, often referred to as China’s White House. Xi met with former President Obama there in November 2014; George W. Bush also had a visit in 2002 during his time as president.

Obama once toured the Yingtai, a man-made island where Emperor Guangxu was held under house arrest until his death.

In a somewhat humorous exchange, Xi seemed to poke fun at Trump when discussing a past visit from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Can I ask the president… will he bring them here?” Trump asked.

Xi replied, “Very few. Typically, we don’t host diplomatic events here.” He mentioned that even when they do, it’s quite rare.

Xi humorously noted, “For instance, with Putin.”

The discussion turned a bit light-hearted as they conversed in a lavish pavilion over tea.

Body language analyst Lillian Glass suggested that the position of their feet while seated could significantly influence the summit’s success.

Trump referred to Xi, whom he considers a “friend,” and had extended an invitation for Xi and his wife to visit the White House in September.

“I hope you leave impressed with China, just as I am,” he told Xi.

As he prepared to return to the U.S., Trump and Xi enjoyed a meal that included kung pao chicken and scallops before Trump’s departure from China.