President Donald Trump’s high-profile trip to Beijing turned tense behind closed doors Thursday as clashes repeatedly broke out between American officials and Chinese authorities during events with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to exclusive details reported by the New York Post, what was expected to be a carefully choreographed summit instead featured shouting matches, security disputes, and physical confrontations involving reporters and staff members.
At one point, a member of the U.S. delegation reportedly described the situation as a “s**tshow.”
One of the first incidents unfolded during Trump’s bilateral meeting with Xi when Chinese journalists rushed into the room in a chaotic surge.
During the commotion, a White House advance staffer was knocked down and trampled by members of the press pack.
The employee was reportedly bruised but did not suffer serious injuries. American officials quickly voiced anger over the incident, confronting Chinese personnel over the aggressive behavior.
The disorder was reportedly captured on camera by a crew member traveling with filmmaker Brett Ratner, who accompanied the trip while preparing for production on “Rush Hour 4.”
Another heated standoff developed later at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven.
Chinese security officials reportedly refused to allow a Secret Service agent into a secured area because the agent was armed, despite firearms being standard for presidential protection details.
American officials pushed back, refusing to continue without the agent.
The disagreement delayed the visit for roughly half an hour as both sides argued over the matter.
Eventually, a second Secret Service agent who had already passed security escorted the American press pool into the area while the first agent remained behind.
Trump and Xi arrived late at the temple after a delay and an earlier meeting that ran longer than expected.
After the two leaders posed for photographs and continued their tour, American reporters were escorted into a holding room and temporarily prevented from following the president.
When Trump later prepared to leave, tensions escalated again after Chinese officials allegedly blocked US journalists from rejoining the presidential motorcade.
American officials loudly protested the move.
During the confrontation, one White House official reportedly told the Chinese delegation that the Trump administration “would never treat them this way” during a visit to the United States.
The standoff finally ended when a White House staffer declared: “We are going.”
That prompted the American press group to force its way past Chinese officials and sprint across the temple grounds toward the waiting convoy.
Another group of Chinese personnel reportedly attempted to stop them by physically blocking their path, but the Americans continued forward and made it to the motorcade.
US reporters also dealt with strict restrictions throughout the summit.
According to reports, Chinese officials confiscated water bottles from members of the American press pool and limited bathroom access despite temperatures climbing above 80 degrees in Beijing.
No replacement water was reportedly provided.
Adding to the unusual atmosphere surrounding the summit was Ratner’s cameraman, who traveled aboard Air Force One with the delegation.
Ratner later said the cameraman was scouting locations and testing lighting conditions around Beijing ahead of filming for “Rush Hour 4,” not working on another documentary project.
Security concerns remained high throughout the visit.
Administration officials and reporters were reportedly instructed to use burner phones and temporary email accounts during the summit amid fears of cyber surveillance and hacking.
