Peng Liyuan’s English exchange with Melania Trump grabs attention during Xi’s US visit

Peng Liyuan’s English exchange with Melania Trump draws attention during Xi’s US visit

China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan has attracted attention after appearing to speak directly in English with US First Lady Melania Trump during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington.

US President Donald Trump and Melania welcomed Xi and Peng at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. The two couples initially interacted through interpreters, but Peng and Melania later appeared to converse without one as they walked towards the welcoming ceremony.

The two first ladies were seen smiling and speaking to each other for nearly a minute. During another brief exchange after the national anthems, Peng appeared to mouth the word “wonderful”. Their conversation was not audible in the footage.

What did Peng say to Melania?

A professional lip-reader quoted by a US tabloid suggested that Peng may have asked Melania about her son, Barron Trump. She also appeared to gesture towards her forehead, which was interpreted as a possible reference to his height.

However, the interpretation is based solely on lip-reading and cannot independently confirm what Peng actually said.

The interaction quickly drew attention online, particularly because Peng has previously delivered public speeches in English.

Peng takes part in cultural diplomacy

Peng’s public engagements continued during Xi’s Washington visit. On Thursday, she joined Melania at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, where a youth choir performed the Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower.”

After the performance, the children thanked Peng, saying, “Thank you, mother Peng!”

Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng shared footage of the visit on X and said Peng encouraged American students to learn more about Chinese language and culture and become “envoys of friendship” between the two countries.

Geopolitics analyst Joe Mazur of Trivium China said Peng’s public appearances can give diplomacy a more personal dimension. Reuters described her role during the visit as part of China’s broader use of “soft power” amid continuing disagreements between Beijing and Washington over issues including trade and Taiwan.

Who is Peng Liyuan?

Peng is a celebrated soprano who was widely known in China for performing with the Chinese military before becoming First Lady after Xi became president in 2013.

She has accompanied Xi on several overseas trips and has maintained a more visible international profile than many spouses of China’s previous leaders.

Her work has included campaigns focused on education and public health. UNESCO appointed her a Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls and Women’s Education in 2014, recognising her advocacy for access to education and efforts to address inequalities.

• She has also participated in HIV/AIDS awareness and other public-health initiatives.
• Peng has spoken English publicly before
• The interaction with Melania is not Peng’s first known public use of English.

In 2015, she delivered an English-language speech at a Global Education First Initiative event at the United Nations in New York, where she spoke about girls’ education and equality.

The speech resurfaced on social media following her interaction with Melania, with users highlighting her earlier English-language appearance and her seemingly relaxed exchange with the US First Lady.

English debate resurfaces in China

The renewed interest in Peng’s English comes amid a wider discussion in China over the place of English in education.

Earlier this month, maths teacher Tang Jiafeng argued that English should no longer have core-subject status in schools, saying students, parents and schools spend excessive time and resources learning the language, according to the South China Morning Post.