Protesters outside the White House loudly objected to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit, with chants including “Free Hong Kong” and calls for political prisoners’ release audible during the state dinner. The demonstration highlighted opposition to China’s human rights record as Trump and Xi prepared to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and rare-earth minerals.

Around 134 guests attended, including senior technology executives, while Tibetan, Uyghur, Hong Kong democracy, Chinese pro-democracy and Falun Gong groups took part in protests. Demonstrators also used Winnie the Pooh costumes, referencing a nickname for Xi, and renewed calls for the release of Uyghur doctor Gulshan Abbas, who was sentenced in China to 20 years on terrorism-related charges her family disputes.