A high-profile White House welcome for Chinese President Xi Jinping was punctuated by confrontations involving Chinese photographers, Secret Service agents and American reporters.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Xi and his wife to the White House on Thursday morning. Trump and Xi delivered remarks, exchanged gifts and observed a military review that included flyovers by a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and F-22 fighter jets.
The White House event followed an elaborate welcoming ceremony for Xi at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. Trump orchestrated a B-1 bomber demonstration that included cannons, a 21-gun salute, a presentation of colors, the U.S. Air Force Band, platoons from each branch of the military and American flower presenters.
Before Xi’s arrival, however, the press scrum produced a different scene. AFP correspondent Danny Kemp shared footage from the South Portico showing raised voices as Chinese photographers sought better positions. The photographers reportedly pushed toward the front of the crowd to get their shot.
A separate clip posted by Telegraph reporter Connor Stringer appeared to show a Chinese photographer being physically restrained and escorted away by two female Secret Service agents.
White House print pooler Kerry Picket reported that the earlier disagreement involved Chinese photographers, a White House staff photographer and the Secret Service. The dispute centered on where a Chinese photographer could set up.
The ceremony then proceeded. Trump and Melania walked onto the North Portico, where a red carpet had been rolled out, and met Xi and his wife, who arrived in a black SUV.
During a later photo opportunity, Trump joked that the Chinese had the friendliest press corps, according to the White House press pool.
Inside the briefing room, NTD correspondent Iris Tao shared video that appeared to show a male Chinese photographer shoving an American reporter while rushing through the briefing room door toward the Oval Office for the bilateral meeting. The incident followed the earlier clashes between American and Chinese photographers during the arrival ceremony.
The public program featured military hardware, formal greetings and exchanged gifts. The press coverage, meanwhile, focused on disputes over access and positioning, including a photographer being escorted away and a reported shove involving an American reporter.
A Chinese male photographer shoved an American female reporter while rushing through the briefing room door to the Oval Office bilateral.
This follows earlier clashes between U.S. and Chinese photographers during the arrival ceremony. pic.twitter.com/5MiQa9Arx2
— Iris Tao (@IrisTaoTV) September 24, 2026