Trump is first president in nearly a century to not host a first-year state dinner

President Trump is the first president in nearly a century to not hold a state dinner during his first year in office, according to The Associated Press.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said there isn’t a “singular reason” Trump hasn’t held a state dinner, the AP reported.

She said the Trump administration is hoping to extend a state visit invitation sometime early in 2018.{mosads}

Anita McBride — a veteran of three Republican administrations who last served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush — said state dinners are occasions that “really go a long way to solidify and strengthen relationships.”

During his presidential campaign, Trump made comments regarding state dinners when former President Obama held a 2015 state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I would not be throwing (Xi) a dinner,” Trump said at the time.

“I would get him a McDonald’s hamburger and say we’ve got to get down to work.”

During his first year as president, Trump has visited China in what was referred to as a “state visit, plus.” The president also took state visits to South Korea and Vietnam during his first year in office.