Fact Check: Did Trump peek at Xi Jinping’s private notebook during Beijing banquet?

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid growing online discussion surrounding US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, a post has circulated a 26-second video clip from the May 14, 2026, Trump–Xi state banquet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

The clip, marked with arrows, appears to show Trump reaching toward and briefly opening a black folder or notebook on the table while Xi Jinping steps away. As the video spreads, it raises questions about what the footage actually shows. Let’s fact-check the claim.

Claim: Trump was peeking at Xi Jinping’s private notebook during a Beijing banquet

According to X user @mog_russEN, a post circulated a 26-second video clip from the May 14, 2026, Trump–Xi state banquet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. The video, marked with red arrows, appears to show Donald Trump reaching for and briefly opening a black folder or notebook on the table while Xi Jinping steps away.

The accompanying caption read: “SPOTTED: Trump caught sneaking a peek at Xi Jinping's private notebook during a Beijing banquet while Xi stepped away!"

The clip quickly gained traction online, prompting mixed reactions and meme-driven commentary. Many users mocked the scene, suggesting confusion or futility due to the contents being in Chinese, and framing it as part of broader online narratives about US-China relations during Trump’s state visit rather than a confirmed diplomatic incident.

The video also sparked widespread discussion and speculation across social media. One commenter asked, “Is this true?” while another wrote, “Trump thought the notes would be in English, but he can’t read that either.”

Another user added a sarcastic remark comparing language barriers, saying, “Has he learned Mandarin before the trip? Unlike noodles, which both can munch on, Mandarin is mere doodles for Trump, as is English for Xi.”

Fact Check: Unverified, authenticity of video not confirmed

The claim that Donald Trump was caught sneaking a peek at Xi Jinping’s private notebook during a Beijing banquet at the Great Hall of the People remains unverified and appears to be exaggerated or framed as propaganda. 

No mainstream reports confirm that the notebook contained sensitive or private information, nor do they support the suggestion of a security breach. 

Even if the materials belonged to Xi Jinping, their practical significance during a brief glance remains unclear, as such items at state banquets typically include briefing notes, schedules, menus, or personal remarks rather than classified documents. Diplomatic events also operate under strict protocol with extensive staff and security oversight.

International media widely covered the banquet and focused on diplomatic messaging, high-level discussions, and ceremonial exchanges rather than any alleged protocol breach or suspicious behavior.

While a short viral video circulating online appears to show Trump reaching toward a black folder or notebook on the table as Xi steps away, no reputable news organization has confirmed the interpretation that he was attempting to view private documents. Instead, verified coverage of the event highlights formal seating arrangements, ceremonial gestures, and routine diplomatic interactions.

Fact-checking of similar viral clips from the same summit period has consistently shown that edited angles, missing context, and social media framing can exaggerate ordinary actions into misleading narratives. In this case, no official source or credible reporting supports the claim that Trump viewed Xi Jinping’s private notes.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.