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NYU President Attended White House Dinner

Linda Mills joined a state dinner honoring Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House.

Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of the US Capitol dome in navy and cream, evoking the tension of federal policy and oversight.
NYU President Linda Mills attended a state dinner at the White House honoring Chinese leader Xi Jinping as federal scrutiny regarding NYU Shanghai's partnerships continues. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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NYU President Linda Mills attended a state dinner at the White House honoring Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Administrators used the event to highlight the profile of NYU Shanghai to U.S. and Chinese leaders.

Why it matters

The attendance comes amid heightened federal scrutiny regarding the national security risks posed by NYU Shanghai and its partnerships with Chinese institutions. Two House committees have been investigating the university's ties since 2024.

The guest list for the White House dinner included 134 people, comprising various tech executives and officials. NYU maintains partnership programs with Chinese universities including Fudan and Tsinghua.

The players

Linda Mills

Linda Mills serves as the president of New York University.

Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping is the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China.

U.S. Department of Defense

The department is the executive branch agency responsible for the coordination and supervision of all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces.

The details

NYU Shanghai was established in 2012 in partnership with the state-run East China Normal University. In August 2026, the U.S. Department of Defense mandated that the university reduce its collaborations with foreign entities of concern.

Timeline

  1. NYU Shanghai was founded in 2012.

  2. House of Representatives committees reported national security concerns regarding the university in 2024.

  3. The Department of Defense issued an order in August 2026 for the reduction of foreign partnerships.

  4. The deadline for compliance with the federal order was August 31, 2026.

  5. NYU President Linda Mills attended the White House state dinner on September 24, 2026.

Market Landscape

This event highlights the tension between academic exchange and the increasingly restrictive foreign partnership policies mandated by the U.S. Department of Defense. It demonstrates how universities must navigate federal security mandates while maintaining global institutional footprints.

The federal scrutiny regarding NYU Shanghai may lead to significant changes in research collaborations and university enrollment policies for international students. Students and staff should monitor for potential shifts in the university's ongoing partnerships and academic programs.

The takeaway

This event underscores the complex balance academic leaders face when attempting to maintain global partnerships under strict national security guidelines. Compliance with federal mandates regarding foreign research ties remains a critical challenge for large universities.

Further reading

Learn more about the academic and political figures currently in the news in our People section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Washington Square News.

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Should U.S. universities maintain academic partnerships with institutions in countries that pose national security risks?