Why Did Trump Gift Xi Jinping a Bald Eagle Statue?

During a state dinner, U.S. President Donald Trump presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a statue of a bald eagle. Trump emphasized that he and Xi have made “significant progress” on contentious issues between the U.S. and China, agreeing to extend a temporary trade agreement for another two months. Xi urged caution on the Taiwan issue, stressing that the U.S. must maintain the “correct stance opposing Taiwan independence.” Kathmandu, September 25.

President Donald Trump gifted President Xi Jinping a statue of the American national symbol, the bald eagle, during a state dinner. They described the eagle as a symbol of “America’s independent and free spirit.” In international diplomacy, gift exchanges are seen as an important means of fostering goodwill and improving relations. However, such gifts often carry cultural and political messages, making the choice sensitive at times.

Efforts Toward a Long-Term Trade Agreement
Earlier, Trump noted that he and Xi have made “significant progress” on several disputed issues between the U.S. and China. According to sources, both countries have agreed to maintain the temporary trade agreement for an additional two months. During this period, both sides will continue efforts toward a long-term trade deal. However, uncertainty surrounding the trade war has not been fully resolved.

Charu Chanana, investment strategist at Saxo Markets, noted that businesses are looking for practical signs of real change, such as new arrangements on tariffs, supply of rare minerals, purchasing of U.S. agricultural products, and changes in rules regarding U.S. chip exports. She described the meeting between the two leaders as a “summit focused more on stability than on breakthrough success.” As for Taiwan, Xi pressed the U.S. to maintain the “correct stance opposing Taiwan independence” during their talks.

According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, Xi urged the U.S. to proceed cautiously on Taiwan. He stressed that the Taiwan issue is vital for the long-term development of China-U.S. relations. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan operates as a self-governing entity with a separate political system. In recent years, China has strongly opposed pro-independence activities in Taiwan and has hinted at the use of force if necessary. Although the U.S. has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, American law mandates providing Taiwan with necessary materials and support for self-defense. This places the U.S. in a delicate position of balancing diplomatic relations with China and security support for Taiwan.