Chinese officials have made life difficult for White House staffers, American journalists, and Secret Service agents as several chaotic scenes played out on Thursday in Beijing during President Trump’s visit to the communist nation.
In one incident, a Secret Service agent accompanying the White House press pool was denied entry into a secure area because he was carrying a firearm, which is standard protocol for Secret Service agents providing protection in foreign countries, The New York Post reported. Chinese officials would only allow the agent to move into the secure area if he handed over his firearm, resulting in a standoff and heated argument.
The standoff reportedly delayed the press pool for 30 minutes as they tried to reach Trump’s motorcade. A second agent who had already been allowed into the secure area came back to escort the journalists. The chaos was captured on the BBC’s live feed from the press pool.
As reporters were held back, multiple people expressed their frustration with the Chinese official, telling him, “We have to go!”
“U.S. press, we are going!” one woman said as the reporters finally pushed through.
One person was heard calling the incident a “sh*t show.”
As they moved toward the motorcade, more Chinese officials ran toward them to try to stop them, according to the Post. The American journalists, however, made it to the president’s convoy.
In a separate incident on Thursday, a female White House staffer was trampled by Chinese reporters as the reporters attempted to get into the room where Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were set to meet. The White House aide was reportedly bruised in the incident, but she didn’t sustain any major injuries.
The messy scenes took place shortly after China rolled out the red carpet for President Trump with a showy welcome as Trump stepped off Air Force One on Wednesday night. Trump and Xi engaged in bilateral talks for much of Thursday before the U.S. President accompanied Xi to a banquet at the Great Hall of the People.
“It was a fantastic day,” Trump said during a speech at the banquet. “And in particular, I want to thank President Xi, my friend, for this magnificent welcome.”
“We had extremely positive and productive conversations and meetings today with the Chinese delegation earlier,” Trump added.
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