Donald Trump inaugurates White House helipad and addresses Taiwan talks

President Donald Trump has inaugurated a new granite helipad at the White House South Garden, marking the first operational use of the facility. During the inauguration, the President made his first flight in the VH-92A Patriot helicopter, operated by the United States Marine Corps. The project, valued at approximately $6 million, was funded by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, partly to address previous damage caused to the White House grounds by older aircraft rotor wash.

Following the inauguration, President Trump addressed the media regarding a recent state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump stated that the two leaders did not spend “too much time” discussing Taiwan, asserting that Xi understands his position. The comments follow Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, where he reiterated Beijing’s stance on Taiwan and its rejection of any support for the island's independence. The issue of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan remains a significant point of tension between the two nations.