First lady Melania Trump and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan toured the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The visit took place during a diplomatic visit by Chinese officials to Washington, D.C., which also included a state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump for President Xi Jinping.
The museum outing was intended to highlight cultural ties and artistic exchange between the United States and China. The tour was led by Jan Stuart, curator of Chinese art, and Chase Robinson, director of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art.
During the tour, Trump and Peng viewed the Peacock Room, a 19th-century work by American artist James McNeill Whistler that incorporates Japanese design and Chinese porcelain influences. They also viewed an 18th-century Qianlong-period Chinese porcelain vase from the Qing dynasty. The visit concluded with a performance by a youth choir from the Hope Chinese School, who sang "Jasmine Flower" and "Songs & Smiles."
For students of the Hope Chinese School, the event provided direct interaction with the two first ladies. The inclusion of students and the performance were described by the White House as a way to highlight the next generation's role in cultural exchange. Observers monitor these outings to gauge the personal rapport between the families of heads of state.
What happens next: Following the museum visit, the diplomatic itinerary continued with a state dinner at the White House on the evening of September 24. The menu for the event featured sea bass and was attended by various technology industry executives. The events conclude the formal schedule for the Chinese delegation's visit to the capital.