White House aide trampled, Secret Service locked out as Trump's Beijing visit turns chaotic
BEIJING, CHINA: As Beijing hosted President Donald Trump for a closely watched two-day summit, reports of behind-the-scenes chaos also drew global attention.
The first day, Thursday, May 14, of the high-scale event in Beijing, China, was marred by quite a few offstage altercations, reportedly including Chinese press trampling a White House aide, American press not getting access to the presidential motorcade, limited access to the bathroom for US reporters, and a Secret Service officer being kept out of an official event.
The Beijing summit engulfed by mayhem
The Chinese officials reportedly tried to dictate the coverage of the global event and keep a tight hold of American guests.
A report by the New York Post stated that chaos was captured on cameras accompanying 'Rush Hour' director Brett Ratner as he prepared to shoot a fourth instalment of the beloved feature film franchise.
The report claimed that US reporters were given limited access to the bathroom and water bottles despite the bright sunshine, as part of efforts by Chinese officials to dominate or control the coverage of global events.
Chinese press steps on White House official
The first disruption reportedly took place during Donald Trump’s morning bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping, when a large group of Chinese journalists rushed into the area.
During the commotion, a member of the White House advance team was knocked to the ground and stepped on.
The aide suffered bruises and was left shaken. The incident reportedly angered members of the American delegation, who openly complained about the behavior of the Chinese media.
Secret Service officer kept out of official event
Another dispute later emerged at the Temple of Heaven after Chinese authorities refused to allow an armed Secret Service agent into a restricted area. US agents routinely carry firearms while protecting the president and accompanying officials.
The disagreement led to a half-hour delay, with neither side backing down initially. American officials refused to move ahead without the agent, while Chinese authorities demanded the weapon be left behind.
The situation was eventually resolved after a second Secret Service agent already inside the area escorted the press group forward.
American reporters stopped from joining presidential motorcade
Trump and Xi’s visit to the Temple of Heaven was delayed. Following a photo session, the American press pool was reportedly confined to a holding area while the leaders toured the site.
Another confrontation broke out when Chinese officials allegedly stopped reporters from returning to Trump’s motorcade. After loud exchanges between both sides, White House staffers led the American group through the crowd and toward the presidential convoy despite attempts to block them.
The first day of the two-day summit in Beijing, China, hosting Donald Trump at the Hall of the People, concluded on a positive note with Chinese President Xi Jinping agreeing that the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open” and President Trump touting a long-standing “special relationship” with China.
