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Trump's Beijing Visit Ends With 'Bin Order' For Chinese-Issued Items
During President Trump's visit to Beijing, U.S. staff discarded all Chinese-issued materials before boarding Air Force One, amid tense security interactions. A U.S. Secret Service agent was blocked from entering the Temple of Heaven during Trump's meeting with Xi, and Chinese officials briefly barred the press pool from the motorcade, prompting U.S. aides to push reporters through. The episode echoes past friction seen during Obama’s 2016 Hangzhou visit.
Why It Matters
The episode highlights ongoing frictions in U.S.-China exchanges around press access and security protocols during high-stakes diplomacy.
Timeline
4 Events
Materials issued by Chinese officials discarded before boarding Air Force One
May 15, 2026
As Trump's delegation departed Beijing on Friday, U.S. staff and travelling press collected all Chinese-issued materials — including press credentials, burner phones for White House staff, and delegation pins — and discarded them in a bin at the bottom of the aircraft stairs before boarding Air Force One.
Press pool blocked from joining presidential motorcade; U.S. aides push reporters through
May 15, 2026
Chinese officials initially barred the press pool from joining the presidential motorcade. U.S. aides traveling with the press eventually pushed through security to get reporters through.
Secret Service agent blocked entering Temple of Heaven during Trump-Xi meeting
May 15, 2026
During Trump's meeting with Xi at Beijing's Temple of Heaven, a U.S. Secret Service agent accompanying the press pool was prevented from entering the site because he was carrying a firearm, which is standard practice under American presidential security protocol.
Earlier friction noted from Obama’s 2016 Hangzhou G20 visit
2016
The article notes that during Barack Obama's 2016 Hangzhou G20 visit, U.S. and Chinese staff exchanged heated words over how many Americans would be permitted to accompany Obama into his meeting with Xi, according to The New York Times.