US President Donald Trump has stirred an online debate after taking a sip of champagne during a formal state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The rare moment, caught on video during a diplomatic toast, went viral because Trump has long claimed he never drinks alcohol.
The high-profile dinner was held at Beijing's Great Hall of the People during a large-scale US-China summit on trade, regional security and global energy.
Why Trump Never Drinks Alcohol
Trump's avoidance of alcohol is linked to a personal family tragedy. It was his elder brother, Fred Trump Jr., who died at 43, after years of battling alcoholism. Over the years, Trump has talked about how his brother's death is tied to his ongoing effort to stay away from any alcohol or cigarettes.
That is why the champagne sip during the toast with Xi Jinping drew intense debate online, with many wondering whether the US President broke a lifelong personal rule to honor his Chinese counterpart.
Was Trump's Champagne Sip Just a Diplomatic Courtesy?
Trump reportedly took just a symbolic sip during the ceremonial toast as a mark of respect to his Chinese counterpart. The banquet was part of a highly choreographed diplomatic event where both leaders projected warmth even amid decades of tensions between Washington and Beijing.
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Xi Jinping stressed the crucial role of a healthy US-China relationship , "the Taiwan issue is the most important issue in China-US relations," he reportedly said, adding that mishandling the issue could force the two superpowers into a "highly perilous situation".
But Trump spoke about two nations' historic ties: "I think the relationship between the American and Chinese people goes all the way back to America's founding," he said at the gathering.
What Else Did They Talk About?
The summit has seen the flooding of issues from the economic cooperation to regional stability beyond the viral moment of champagne drinking.The first day of talks saw both sides reaching a consensus that the Strait of Hormuz should stay open for the free flow of energy to the world in a growing tense Middle East, white house officials said.
The leaders also discussed expanding Chinese purchases of American agricultural products, increasing Chinese investment in the US, and improving overall economic cooperation after a decade of trade tensions and tariff war.
The White House said the first day of talks was "positive" calling for a cooling between the world's two largest economies.