As he tucked into a New York strip steak and Thumbelina carrots in an ornate private dining room at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump knew the bombs would be in the air by the time he finished his chocolate sorbet.

Before sitting sown to eat the president had given the order to launch 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Syrian airspace, but the show had to go on.

Mr Trump took his place next to his guest, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, at a long table festooned with flowers and elaborate candelabras. He chatted amiably with Mr Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan, and gave nothing away while the Chinese delegation sipped a 2014 Girard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley.

At this pivotal moment for Mr Trump's young presidency the aides he chose to be at the table with him included his daughter Ivanka, chief of staff Reince Priebus, and Wilbur Ross, his commerce secretary. Jared Kushner, his son-in law, was given pride of place at the other side of the Chinese couple. Steve Bannon his chief strategist was toward the end of the table.

At around 8.40pm, when the Tomahawks were launched from the USS Ross and USS Porter in the eastern Mediterranean, Mr Trump was finally able to tell Mr Xi what was on his mind. The Chinese motorcade left Mar-a-Lago 11 minutes later, speeding past palm trees to a nearby hotel.