
US President Donald Trump has gifted Chinese President Xi Jinping with a piece of art depicting a bald eagle during a state dinner held in honor of the Chinese leader.
"And in this spirit of friendship, I am honored to offer President Xi a gift from an extraordinary American artist, one of the greatest in the world, created in direct collaboration with Melania and me," Trump declared during the ceremony.
He said the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, "embodies the free and soaring spirit of America."
Trump then left the podium and raised the curtain hiding the artwork, saying he hoped it would "find a beautiful home, a wonderful place, in Beijing."
The moment was also accompanied by a symbolic reference to the Chinese horoscope. Xi Jinping was born in 1953, which according to the Chinese zodiac is the Year of the Snake.
And it was here that the detail of the work left room for a dose of irony: due to the poor lighting in the hall, it was not clear whether the eagle was depicted catching a snake.