- Who: Arabella Kushner, 15 — daughter of Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner.
- What: Greeted President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan in Mandarin: "Welcome to America."
- When: Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Xi's White House arrival ceremony.
- Why it matters: Xi last saw her in person when she was six — the same year he rated her Chinese "A+".
At a state visit full of flags, cannons and cabinet secretaries, one of the most talked-about moments came from a 15-year-old. Arabella Kushner, granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, stepped forward at the White House arrival ceremony and welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in Mandarin — the language she has been learning since she was three.
According to reports from the ceremony, Xi and Peng were delighted — and said they could hardly believe how much she had grown since they last met her in person, when she was just six years old.
The Three-Word Welcome That Stole the Show
Arabella joined her mother, Ivanka Trump, at Xi's arrival on Thursday, September 24, 2026. When the Chinese leader and his wife arrived, she greeted them in their native tongue with a simple phrase meaning "Welcome to America."
Arabella sat in the front row during the welcome ceremony next to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and was later seen at the military review alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice President JD Vance.
Her State Dinner Debut — and a Seat Next to Kavanaugh
That evening, Arabella attended the state dinner in the White House East Room — her first. She wore a long black floor-length gown with her hair styled up, and was seated between her mother and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, at a table shared with other members of the high court.
Family photos shared by Lara Trump on Instagram showed Arabella posing alongside Lara, Tiffany Trump and Ivanka. Ivanka herself wore a light-blue strapless gown by Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika for the dinner.
Then vs. Now: Arabella and Xi, 2017 → 2026
- Sang the folk song "Mo Li Hua" (Jasmine Flower) for Xi and Peng
- Wore a traditional Chinese outfit and recited Chinese poetry on video
- Xi gave her Chinese an "A+"
- Welcomed Xi and Peng in Mandarin at the White House
- Front row at the arrival ceremony, beside Marco Rubio
- State dinner debut, seated next to Justice Kavanaugh
The "Little Star" Who Charmed Beijing
This is not Arabella's first diplomatic moment. In April 2017, during Xi's visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, a five-year-old Arabella sang "Jasmine Flower" in Mandarin with her younger brother Joseph in front of Xi and Peng Liyuan.
Months later, in November 2017, during Trump's state visit to Beijing, he showed Xi a video of Arabella in a traditional Chinese dress, singing Chinese songs and reciting classical poetry. Xi praised her warmly, gave her an "A+", and called her a "little star" — a clip that went viral across Chinese social media at the time.
Xi and Peng said they couldn't believe how big she had gotten since the last time they saw her.
— As reported from the White House arrival ceremonyHow Arabella Learned Mandarin
Arabella began studying Mandarin at age three. Over the years, she has been reported to have learned through regular lessons and a Chinese-speaking nanny at home. She is now widely described in the press as fluent — which is why her presence at Xi's visit drew so much attention.
💡 Why it made headlines: Several outlets described her appearance as a deliberate "soft power" touch — a personal link to Xi that goes back to Trump's first term. The White House has not commented on whether her role was planned.
Timeline: Arabella & China
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Arabella Kushner?
She is the 15-year-old eldest daughter of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, and a granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump. She lives in Florida with her parents and younger brothers Joseph and Theodore.
What did Arabella say to Xi Jinping?
She greeted Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan in Mandarin with a phrase meaning "Welcome to America" at the White House arrival ceremony on September 24, 2026.
Does Arabella Kushner speak fluent Mandarin?
She has studied Mandarin since age three and is widely described by U.S. and Chinese media as a fluent speaker.
Why did Xi Jinping give Arabella an "A+"?
During Trump's November 2017 visit to Beijing, Trump showed Xi a video of Arabella singing Chinese songs and reciting poetry. Xi rated her performance "A+" and called her a "little star".
Who did Arabella sit next to at the state dinner?
She sat between her mother, Ivanka Trump, and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the White House East Room.
Nine years ago, a five-year-old singing "Jasmine Flower" became a small bridge between two presidents. On Thursday, the same girl — now 15 — welcomed Xi Jinping in his own language on American soil. Whatever the politics of the visit, it was one of the most human moments of the day.
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