La última batalla de Pedro Sánchez para no ser desahuciado de La Moncloa

 

Juan Pardo Navarro

Aterrado por las consecuencias electorales de las movilizaciones de la extrema izquierda y por el impacto en la opinión pública del desahucio de Maricarmen, Pedro Sánchez, aprisa y corriendo y en una nueva pirueta parlamentaria intenta sacar adelante una “nueva” ley de la vivienda que resuelva el calificado como principal problema de los españoles. Pero, se trata de un paripé. Ha metido en la coctelera un batiburrillo de propuestas de los partidos que le invistieron presidente, a pesar de ser incongruentes, contradictorias e inútiles para resolver la crisis.

Pedro Sánchez, en su intento de contentar a todos, de aplacar a Sumar y acercarse a Junts para recuperar su apoyo parlamentario, ha troceado la ley de vivienda en dos decretos. Uno para cada partido. Pretende aprobarlos el viernes en el Congreso y aparentar que ha salido del atolladero en el que lleva 8 años. Pero sólo ha logrado meterse en un laberinto de difícil salida. Pues es posible que ambos decretos sean tumbados en el Hemiciclo. Sólo con suerte, uno saldrá aprobado. Con suerte y con más negociaciones tras las bambalinas.

Sin embargo, el Gobierno no resolverá la crisis de la vivienda ni aun aprobando los dos. Pues, en especial el elaborado por Sumar sobre los alquileres, redobla el intervencionismo del Estado al prohibir los desahucios, fomentar la okupación y obligar a los propietarios a firmar contratos indefinidos. Así, agravará aún más el principal problema de la crisis que es la falta de vivienda. Pues los propietarios no querrán alquilar sus casas ante el riesgo de perder sus derechos. Se reducirá la oferta del mercado, que ya es escasa. El sectarismo comunista del decreto eliminará cualquier posibilidad que “los jóvenes y los más vulnerables”, como dice el Gobierno, encuentren vivienda.

Pedro Sánchez se ha llenado la boca estos últimos años con la promesa de construir cientos de miles de viviendas de protección oficial inyectando, como siempre, millones de euros de unos presupuestos que ni están aprobados. El resultado está ahí: no se ha construido una sola casa. Y los decretos que serán votados el viernes en el Congreso, de ser aprobados, no aliviarán el problema, pues no abordan la imprescindible ampliación del mercado de la vivienda.

El nuevo vodevil parlamentario del Gobierno, al margen de la aprobación o no de los decretos, sólo busca seducir a esa extrema izquierda que ha tomado las calles con acampadas como la de la Puerta del Sol. Pues Pedro Sánchez teme que los partidos comunistas recuperen su protagonismo y arrebaten al PSOE los pocos escaños que le quedan, según todas las encuestas. De nuevo, el único interés del presidente del Gobierno se centra en amarrar el poder y redoblar su propaganda contra el PP, por ser el único partido que ahora ganaría las elecciones y le dejaría en la calle. Y esa es su gran pesadilla. Por eso, al líder socialista poco le importa la crisis de la vivienda que sufren los españoles. Lo que de verdad le importa es ser desahuciado del palacio de La Moncloa.

Mancheste City stars Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias spotted in deep post-match conversation as relegation threat looms following 115 charges verdict

 

 

 

 Juan Pardo Navarro

Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias spoke furtively following their international clash – just days after the club's guilty verdict in their battle against the Premier League. 

Dias covered his mouth while Haaland shook his head in the aftermath of Portugal's Nations League win over Norway on Sunday night. 

There is no way of ascertaining for sure what they were saying, but the club's future will no doubt be on players' minds after Friday's titanic news.

Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias were locked in conversation after the Norway-Portugal clash

 

Dias covered his mouth while Haaland made a quotation gesture as they caught up 

Manchester City have been found guilty of the vast majority of their 115 Premier League rule-break charges 

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Haaland had been scheduled to speak in a press conference ahead of the Portugal clash but was reportedly removed from that duty.

The striker has previously spoken on City's situation, though. After signing in 2022, he was asked if he had considered the investigation looming over City, to which he replied: 'No, I haven't thought of that or anything.

'I am confident that the club know what they are doing and I really don't think I should speak too much about this.'

We are yet to hear the thoughts of City's players on the topic but their former midfielder Rodri did say ahead of Spain's 3-2 victory over England at Wembley: 'They [Man City] always express the confidence that they never did something wrong and we believe in that.

'Until the moment they are proved wrong, we will believe the club. They always tell us the confidence they have on the innocence.'

City have publicly maintained their innocence throughout the process, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak saying last week: 'Our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began.'

It is inevitable that they will appeal the reported verdict. 

Man City were charged in February 2023 by the Premier League with a hearing concluding in December 2024. 

Their statement that February insisted that they were 'surprised' by the charges.  

The verdict could lead to a variety of punishments including huge points deductions, financial penalties, and even relegation

The charges stretch from the years 2009 to 2023, encompassing much of the Pep Guardiola era, though the most serious end at 2018 

The Premier League accused Man City of multiple breaches of financial rules and of failing to co-operate with a subsequent investigation. The alleged rule breaking was claimed to have taken place over a 14-year period. 

A three-man panel was tasked with considering the evidence, with the initial expectation a verdict would have been reached on the case within months. It has since taken three-and-a-half years. 

The original 115 charges were extended to a total of 130 after an administration issue in what is the most expensive and wide-ranging case in English football history.

City remained steadfast in maintaining their innocence over more than 115 alleged breaches across eight years, some including the start of the Pep Guardiola era.

The club were accused of failing to report accurate financial information for nine seasons stretching from 2009-10 to 2017-18, as well as failing to provide full details of former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13.

They were also alleged to have failed to provide full details of money paid to players between 2010-11 and 2015-16 and failing to co-operate with the probe from 2018 to 2023.

Between the years mentioned, Manchester City won eight Premier League titles, a Champions League, four FA Cups and seven EFL Cups. 

In 2022, Guardiola said he would quit the club if he felt the club's hierarchy had ever lied to him. The next year, he said he would not walk out on his deal, even if he was relegated to League One.  

The club have maintained that they are innocent throughout the process and are expected to appeal

Guardiola always insisted he was 'fully convinced' that the club is innocent and said in May: 'I trust them, I trust them. Because I spoke with them and I trust how they behave and how they did.'

City vehemently denied any breaches of financial rules but the investigation started in December 2018 after German website Der Spiegel published documents from a Football Leaks cache which had originated from Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto.

It alleged that City had overstated sponsorship income with money paid from the club's owners instead of sponsors linked to Abu Dhabi.

Roberto Mancini's wages were said to have doubled via a secret contract with an Abu Dhabi club when he was at Man City, while they were also alleged to have broken rules over approaching young players.

The Mail on Sunday has led the way on reporting the story. In July 2021, they reported on emails that appeared to suggest that Man City had millions funnelled into the club by Abu Dhabi to help inflate their income.

Back in February 2020, the club were banned from the Champions League and fined £25million after they were found to have seriously misled European footballing governing body UEFA and broken financial fair play rules.

This was then lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which also reduced the club's fine to £9m.

City spent £440million over the summer, equalling the British transfer record by signing Enzo Fernandez for £125million. 

Staff at the City Football Academy learned of the news via Daily Mail Sport and other media reports. There was no official email, with some initially left fearing for their jobs and asking senior managers for an explanation.

'It felt like the club was completely blindsided,' one employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper.

Los últimos días de Pedro Sánchez en Moncloa, acampadas en la Puerta del Sol, diagonal de Barcelona y en las playas de Ceuta.

 

Después de 8 largos años en Moncloa, Pedro Sánchez sigue acusando a la derecha de todos los males: de la crisis de la vivienda; incluso, de la invasión de Ceuta. Pero ya ni los socialistas se tragan sus eslóganes. Las calles de Madrid reflejaron este sábado la realidad del colapso político y social que sufre España por culpa de un Gobierno a la deriva. Por la mañana, la plaza de Cibeles aparecía repleta de manifestantes que acusaban de “traidor a Sánchez” y le exigían que el Gobierno cumpliera con su promesa de expulsar a los inmigrantes que invadieron Ceuta y que, más de 50 días después de entrar en tromba en España, decenas de miles todavía acampan en las playas o en el monte e invaden cada rincón de la ciudad.

Por la tarde, otra multitudinaria manifestación de ciudadanos, en este caso de extrema izquierda, aprovecharon el drama de Maricarmen, la mujer de 87 años desahuciada de su casa, y ocuparon la entera Puerta del Sol con una acampada a lo 15-M, para exigir que el Gobierno cumpla con su promesa de resolver la crisis de la vivienda; lo que para esa izquierda populista equivale a atacar a los propietarios de las viviendas alquiladas y obligarles a firmar contratos indefinidos. Y no expulsar jamás a los inquilinos, paguen o no sus cuotas, y menos aún a los okupas. Pero, en realidad, los populistas que han tomado el centro de Madrid sólo exigen que Sánchez cumpla con su programa, con sus acuerdos con esa extrema izquierda del Gobierno Frankenstein que se escandaliza, pero que ha estado callada hasta ahora. Hasta que la tragedia del desahucio de Maricarmen ha copado en directo las pantallas de todas las televisiones.

Todos lloran cínica y desconsoladamente y Pedro Sánchez no podía ser menos. No podía perder la oportunidad de hacer electoralismo y pronunciar un cursi y almibarado discurso que empezara con esta frase:"Yo, Maricarmen, tengo un mensaje para ti. El Gobierno está trabajando contrarreloj para llevar el próximo martes el real decreto ley sobre vivienda”, Esto es, después de esos 8 años en Moncloa, el presidente promete resolver la crisis de la vivienda en 4 días. Una crisis, que, según el presidente, obedece a la derecha, sobre todo a Ayuso, y a sus llamados fondos buitre. Olvida, sin embargo el presidente, que incluso la mujer desahuciada le culpó personalmente en una entrevista, emitida además por TVE. “Sánchez-dijo- no se ha enterado de nada. O no ha querido.”

La invasión de Ceuta se produjo por la complicidad del presidente con el régimen de Marruecos y ahora no es capaz de expulsar a las decenas de miles de inmigrantes que ocupan la ciudad. Y la crisis de la vivienda obedece a sus bandazos legislativos por su dependencia parlamentaria tanto de los partidos de la extrema izquierda como de los de la derecha que, además, son separatistas, golpistas o ambas cosas. Y después de esos 8 años en el poder, la crisis de la vivienda se ha convertido en una tragedia para millones de españoles. Pues Sánchez, que en sus mítines ha prometido construir cientos de miles de casas de protección oficial, todavía no ha terminado ni una.

Y, ahora, con la legislatura en fase terminal, intenta en 4 días aprobar este martes en el Consejo de Ministros un real decreto que logre el imposible de contentar a sus socios. Un real decreto que cuando llegue al Congreso será tumbado como tantos otros y que no entrará en vigor, mientras la crisis de la vivienda se acrecienta. Pero dirá que la culpa es de la derecha.

Pero la culpa es del colapso del Gobierno. Pedro Sánchez está acorralado por las acampadas en la Puerta del Sol y por las de las playas de Ceuta. Pero todavía tiene la desfachatez de escribir poemas de amor a Maricarmen y besar al rey de Marruecos.

Burnham to vow public control of energy, water and housing while signalling end of pension triple lock in conference speech

 

By JASON GROVES,

Andy Burnham will today set out plans for greater state control of water, energy and housing, saying: 'We can't go on as we are.'

In the most Left-wing speech delivered by a modern British prime minister, Mr Burnham will tell Labour's party conference it is time for the state to take 'more control of the basics'.

Last night, there was mounting speculation that Mr Burnham will also signal the end of the pensions triple lock to help pay for his £18billion plan to reform social care.

Chancellor John Healey repeatedly refused to commit to maintaining the triple lock beyond the next election, despite warnings that ditching it would drive up pensioner poverty.

The PM is also expected to make a renewed push to move Britain back into the orbit of the EU. Mr Burnham will today admit that 'people will not agree with every part' of his new plan for the country.

But he will say he is determined to provide 'less drift and more direction' following Sir Keir Starmer's disastrous reign.

Pledging to sweep away the 'flawed thinking of the last 40 years', he will say: 'We can't carry on as we are. Politics–as–usual has taken Britain backwards. More of the same isn't good enough and isn't going to get us where we need to be.'

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey react during the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool

Andy Burnham will today set out plans for greater state control of water, energy and housing, saying: 'We can't go on as we are'

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His intervention came as:

• Shabana Mahmood signalled she is ready to cave in to Labour opposition to her plans to make migrants wait longer before they can claim residence;
• Mr Healey warned the conference there is no money left after the party's first two years in power;
• The Prime Minister set a target to put in place a new 'free' social care system by 2030;
• Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the UK as a country of 'proud Europeans' whose future 'lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union';
• Ministers were urging the Chancellor to scrap Labour's plans to hike fuel duty by 7p a litre next year as diesel hit a record high;
• Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh ditched Labour's pledge to cut electricity bills by £300;
• Wes Streeting urged activists to drop their opposition to increased defence spending.

Renationalisation of the railways is already under way and the PM will today signal he wants further government control of other sectors, including water, energy and housing.

He will indicate that the Government stands ready to put Thames Water in a 'special administration scheme' if a bailout plan fails, effectively putting the debt-laden giant back in public hands. 

Labour sources said that full-scale nationalisation of the major utilities is unlikely at this stage because of the enormous cost. 

But ministers are exploring other ways to intervene in the market to give the Government greater control, including appointing elected mayors to lead regional oversight boards.

Andy Burnham, Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner are seen making apple crumble together during a visit to the Independence Initiative on Monday

Mr Burnham will claim the country is currently 'run for vested interests, not in the public interest, with power held in too few hands'. He will argue that the state needs 'more control of the basics so that we can make it more functional again'.

The PM has already pledged to oversee the construction of a new wave of council houses. And Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has unveiled plans to allow councils to seize private homes that are left empty for six months.

Mr Burnham, who is technically still bound by Labour's 2024 manifesto, will describe his plans as a 'more serious prospectus for Britain than people have been offered in a generation'.

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake hit back last night, saying: 'Hope is not a strategy. If Andy Burnham wants to be honest with the British people, he must admit that Labour's tax rises have crushed businesses, killed jobs and hammered family finances – all so Labour can give more handouts to Benefits Street.

'Andy Burnham has the chance to show whether he's got the backbone to bring the welfare bill down and stand up to his welfare–obsessed MPs. 

'Failure to do so will prove he's just a people pleaser who can't take decisions in the national interest, and that Labour really are the Welfare Party.'

Juan Pardo Navarro

 

Zapatero recibe al rey Abdalá de Arabia Saudí el 19 de junio de 2007. | EFE

 

 

Zapatero con las joyas y Mari Carmen, desahuciada.

 Juan Pardo Navarro

 

El ex presidente Zapatero ha dejado en manos del juez José Luis Calama la confirmación de su versión sobre el origen de las joyas encontradas en una caja fuerte de su despacho valoradas en 1,3 millones de euros. Según su versión, las 12 joyas más valiosas de las encontradas por la UDEF en el registro que se produjo el pasado 19 de mayo fueron un regalo del rey saudí Abdalá bin Abdulaziz durante una visita a España los días 18 y 19 de junio de 2007, cuando él era presidente del Gobierno.

El escrito de su abogado, Víctor Moreno Catena, explica al juez que Zapatero "guardó las alhajas y permanecieron guardadas durante todo este tiempo, junto a las de origen familiar y otros regalos de amigos, sin uso ni destino alguno y sin conciencia de su valor material".

Es decir, que el presidente del Gobierno amontonó collares, pulseras, sortijas y pendientes de rubíes y diamantes engarzados en oro blanco junto a unas baratijas sin apenas valor y se olvido de ello. Eso sí, tras guardar el alijo en una caja fuerte.

Esta versión sobre el origen de las joyas resulta poco creíble. Zapatero sabía que tenía que devolver ese regalo a Patrimonio cuando abandonase la presidencia del Gobierno. De hecho, en 2011, tras perder las elecciones generales, entregó a Patrimonio del Estado más de 500 regalos; entre ellos, dos relojes con esmeraldas regalo del ya mencionado rey saudí en su visita en 2007 a España. ¿Por qué omitió entregar esas joyas?

Un hombre que siempre ha presumido de su escaso apego al dinero se olvidó de que tenía un tesoro escondido. Un tesoro, por cierto, que valía mucho más que todo lo que poseía. En 2011, su declaración de Patrimonio fue de 209.000 euros. Es decir, que lo que no se acordó de declarar era seis veces superior a lo que consta en su declaración ante Hacienda.

La explicación de por qué no ha dado esta versión hasta ahora, tras haberle dicho al juez Calama el pasado 17 de junio que le explicaría el origen de las joyas en "una semana o diez días", no es menos peculiar. Según ha revelado en su escrito el abogado de Zapatero, un día antes de esa declaración ante el juez de la Audiencia Nacional se remitió una carta, a través de la Embajada de Arabia Saudí en España, a la Corte Real saudí para pedir su colaboración en la confirmación del relato del ex presidente sobre el regalo de las joyas. Protocolo de la Corte Real saudí no contestó. Posteriormente, el pasado 12 de agosto, Moreno Catena insistió con una nueva misiva, esta vez advirtiendo a los saudíes de que se iba a solicitar a la Audiencia Nacional una "solicitud de colaboración internacional". El silencio fue de nuevo la respuesta.

Ahora, el abogado de Zapatero le pide al juez que envíe una comisión rogatoria a la Corte Real Saudí para que atiendan la petición de ratificar la versión de Zapatero. Cosa difícil por un doble motivo: el primero es que el rey Abdalá bin Abdulaziz murió hace once años; el segundo, que Arabia Saudí tiene por costumbre no colaborar con la Justicia española. Nunca lo ha hecho.

El ex presidente olvida que es a él a quien corresponde aportar las pruebas de su versión, no al juez instructor

¿Qué ocurrirá si Calama envía la Comisión a la Corte Real y no contesta? Zapatero olvida que es a él a quien corresponde aportar las pruebas de su defensa, no al juez instructor. Como lo más probable es que Arabia Saudí mantenga su posición de no colaborar, Zapatero siempre podrá argumentar que él dijo la verdad, pero que no ha podido ser corroborada por la cabezonería de Riad.

Pero analicemos ahora por qué esta versión es especialmente beneficiosa para el ex presidente del Gobierno. Si fue un regalo, el delito de contrabando no existe. Y, como ha pasado tanto tiempo desde que se produjo, la posible infracción por no declarar la donación ya habría prescrito. Le quedaría, eso sí, el olvido en su declaración de Patrimonio. Ahora bien, si no se confirma su versión –el regalo del rey árabe–, Hacienda podría considerar que ha habido un incremento patrimonial no justificado, y entonces, ¡paf!, tendría que apoquinar 400.000 euracos.

Si se tratara de un empresario, o un negociante espabilado, la cosa no tendría mayor trascendencia. Se paga, y punto. Ahora bien, estamos ante un político que ha hecho bandera de su honestidad y hasta de su modestia. El propio Pedro Sánchez dijo en su entrevista en El Intermedio, que contará con él en la próxima campaña electoral, porque, argumentó, "sigue siendo un referente" para el PSOE y todos los progresistas.

La versión de su abogado tiene una finalidad penal, jurídica. Pero eso no le arregla a Zapatero el problema fundamental: su pérdida de crédito político.

Zapatero no sólo ha podido defraudar a Hacienda, sino que ha defraudado a miles de ciudadanos que creían en su honestidad. La revelación del regalo saudí no sólo no mejora su imagen, sino que la empeora. Unas joyas valiosísimas que él olvido en una caja fuerte. Él, que fue el impulsor del Código de Buen Gobierno (febrero de 2005), que prohibía expresamente a los altos funcionarios la percepción de todo tipo de regalos más allá de los pequeños detalles de cortesía.

Después de que su amigo Julio Martínez y los dueños de Plus Ultra echaran abajo su explicación sobre el dinero que recibió de la compañía aérea que recibió ayudas públicas, su última versión sobre el origen de las joyas no hace sino confirmar que Zapatero ha sido un auténtico fraude.

 

Trump heaps praise on 'truly outstanding' Xi with gracious speech as patriotic gift to China's leader is revealed at lavish black-tie state dinner featuring DC elite and business titans

By ELINA SHIRAZI,

Juan Pardo Navarro

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan at the North Portico for an opulent State Dinner alongside top business titans and government elites.

The lavish black-tie State Dinner in the historic East Room stands as one of the most star-studded evenings of the administration, offering a glitzy opportunity to smooth over notoriously fierce geopolitical friction with the Asian superpower.

President Trump took the podium to kick off the grand evening. 

Jinping and Trump speak through interpreters as First Lady Melania Trump listens to Tesla CEO Elon Musk during a State Dinner 

Ivanka Trump and US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh pictured at the dinner table

Arabella Kushner, Lara Trump, Tiffany Trump and Ivanka Trump dazzled in stunning dresses at the event

Lara Trump with her husband Eric Trump, the son of President Donald Trump

President of China Xi Jinping clinks glasses with US first lady Melania Trump

President Trump took the podium to kick off the grand evening

President Donald Trump talks with China's President Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping makes remarks as he and Donald Trump exchange toasts

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez arrive for a state dinner

US first lady Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi, walk at the White House

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait to greet China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the North Portico of the White House for a State Dinner

Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a toast after he gave his speech, where he thanked the Trump's for hosting them, saying they made them feel 'truly at home'

US President Donald Trump gestures towards China's President Xi Jinping as he presents him with a sculpture of a bald eagle

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'Today, President Trump and I had sincere and in-depth exchanges and reached common understanding on many issues,' Xi stated. 'Chinese modernization has reached new ground. These goals are ambitious and can surely be mutually reinforcing.'

'Together let us write a new chapter in our friendly relations,' Xi added, before asking for a toast.  

Some of the CEO's invited that will enjoy the feast include Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Michael Dell, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Jane Fraser and Tim Cook. 

Huang, Musk and Cook were seated at the Trumps' table. 

Beyond the corporate executives, key political attendees include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as family members like Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and foreign dignitaries including LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault. Prominent media figures are also present, including Fox News anchors and hosts Bret Baier, Laura Ingraham, and Jesse Watters.

Behind closed doors in the East Room tonight, Melania's office says they personally orchestrated the evening's extravagant arrangements, transforming the space with red linens, Reagan-era vermeil, and overflowing urns of crimson dahlias - a striking aesthetic that the First Lady notes 'draws on the color red's longstanding cultural significance throughout Chinese history.'

As the leaders and their guests dine, there will be several performances, including military musicians and inauguration tenor Christopher Macchio setting a grand soundtrack.

Inside the dining room, guests are raising glasses of Schramsberg 'Blanc De Noir' for a symbolic toast, reviving the historic 1972 'Toast to Peace' between Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai in China. 

White House chefs fused classic American ingredients with subtle Asian flavors across a lavish multi-course menu.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping

Tiffany Trump listens during a State Dinner hosted by her father, President Donald Trump

Tim Cook, Chairman of the board of directors of Apple, arrives dressed in a black suit and bowtie, holding up a peace sign

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, left, and his wife Lori Huang walk to the White House Thursday evening

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk mingles with guests, including Dan Scavino, during the State Dinner hosted by the Trumps

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg listens during a State Dinner

VIPs enjoy a silky yellow squash velouté topped with crispy pancetta, followed by sesame-crusted sea bass served over braised baby bok choy, before rounding out the feast with a fruit-shaped vanilla cremeux paired with ice cream churned directly from White House honey.

The grand occasion comes with a touch of signature White House drama.

Trump has made no secret of his annoyance that his ambitious new White House ballroom remains unfinished, forcing the glittering diplomatic showcase into the East Room instead.

While galas, orchestrated by the Office of the First Lady, traditionally serve as the most glamorous showcase of American power, tonight's event is unfolding largely behind closed doors.

Often the secret catalyst for blockbuster trade deals and historic treaties, this evening's private gathering marks the first White House state dinner hosted for China since former President Barack Obama welcomed Xi back in September 2015.

This week, President Trump rolled out the red carpet for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The visit kicked off with full military pomp today - complete with blaring bands, crisp salutes, roaring jet engines, and a personal guided tour by Trump through his gold-encrusted White House hallways.

The dramatic spectacle began the moment the Chinese President and his wife touched down at Joint Base Andrews.

As the leaders stood on the tarmac alongside rows of soldiers positioned in front of F-35 fighter jets and Air Force One, a screaming flyover shattered the air overhead.

The lavish black-tie State Dinner in the historic East Room stands as one of the most star studded evenings of the administration, offering a glitzy opportunity to smooth over notoriously fierce geopolitical friction with the Asian superpower

Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, arrives in a red sequined dress

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arrives for the state dinner

Kelly Ortberg, CEO of Boeing, is seen arriving for the state dinner

Jim Taiclet, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin, arrives for the state dinner

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in attendance at last night's dinner

A US Air Force flyover roared overhead as Xi remained unflinching and Trump cracked a smile

The first couple of China touched down just before 6pm local time. They will stay in the nation's capital through Friday afternoon 

Trump then gifted Xi  a bald eagle, made by an American artist. He called it a 'national symbol of the United States and embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America

Trump then gifted Xi made by an American artist; a bald eagle. He called it a 'national symbol of the United States and embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America

The deafening roar caught Trump off guard, causing him to visibly wince while a stoic, stone-faced Xi didn't even flinch.

Breaking more than a decade of presidential protocol, the Trump's personally greeted the Chinese delegation on the tarmac - marking the first time a sitting US president has met a foreign leader at an airport in over 11 years.

A grinning Trump also celebrated an immediate PR win when Xi announced Beijing is sending two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, to Zoo Atlanta within days, continuing the famous 'panda diplomacy' tradition sparked by Richard Nixon's 1972 trip.

This week's three-day visit is packed with cultural events alongside tough bilateral negotiations, where trade battles and thorny conflicts from tech dominance to Tehran are set to take center stage.

According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the two leaders could face each other up to four times before the year is out, with November's APEC summit in Shenzhen and December's G20 at Trump's Doral golf resort in Miami already on the schedule.

The diplomatic charm offensive continues Friday, when the Trumps, Xi, and Madame Peng tour the National Archives to view America's original founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Xi Jinping China Donald Trump