Chinese reporters clash with Secret Service as White House press scrum turns ugly

WASHINGTON, DC: The media operation around President Xi Jinping's White House visit on Thursday, September 24, took a heated turn as Chinese reporters became involved in multiple confrontations with US security personnel and American journalists.

Videos from the scene show raised voices, arguments over where reporters would stand, and physical jostling as Secret Service agents attempted to keep the press area under control.

Secret Service tells reporters to move

The first confrontation began with a straightforward instruction from the Secret Service: move.

As agents attempted to rearrange the tightly packed press group, Chinese reporters argued back instead of immediately clearing the space.

The exchange grew louder, with voices raised as security personnel continued trying to direct journalists into position.

At one point, one of the Chinese reporters appeared to step on a Secret Service agent’s foot during the scrum, adding another flashpoint to the increasingly heated exchange.

The footage, shared online by The Telegraph correspondent Connor Stringer, captured the back-and-forth as agents tried to regain control of the crowded media area.

There was little room to maneuver, with reporters packed together while attempting to secure positions for coverage of Xi’s visit.

Reporter refuses to move on camera

Another video showed a separate confrontation involving a Secret Service agent and a Chinese reporter.

This time, the exchange turned physical as the agent pushed the reporter and repeatedly told him to follow the rules.

The reporter stayed in position on camera instead of moving away.

The agent continued telling him to comply, leading to another heated exchange between the security official and the Chinese journalist.

The clip circulating online shows the friction security personnel faced while trying to manage journalists competing for access during the high-security event.

Chinese photographer shoves American reporter

In a separate video, a Chinese male photographer was seen shoving an American female reporter as journalists crowded through a doorway toward the Oval Office bilateral meeting.

The incident unfolded in a packed room, with reporters and photographers trying to squeeze through the same narrow passage.

The confrontations in Washington also revived attention to an earlier incident during President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing in May 2026.

During that trip, a rush involving Chinese journalists reportedly resulted in a White House staff member being knocked to the ground as members of the media pushed toward the presidential meeting.