On Thursday, Melania Trump and China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan, conducted a joint visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C. The visit occurred concurrently with high-level diplomatic meetings between President Donald Trump and Chinese leadership at the White House.

According to Chase Robinson, the director of the museum, the first ladies spent approximately 45 minutes exploring the facility. The tour highlighted various Chinese artworks and spaces influenced by Asian design. A primary focus of the visit was the museum’s famous Peacock Room, which features an extensive display of Chinese porcelain. Robinson noted that both women were highly engaged throughout the tour, describing them as being "full of questions" regarding the exhibits.

The event served as a cultural counterpart to the political discussions taking place nearby. While the museum visit was framed by officials as an opportunity to engage with art and history, it also functioned as a traditional diplomatic gesture intended to foster personal rapport between the spouses of the two world leaders. No further details regarding the private conversations held during the tour were disclosed by museum staff or official representatives.