Donald Trump Posts Photo With Xi and Natalie Harp Ahead of Presidential Summit - Newsweek

Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit was punctuated by moments of tension involving members of the traveling Chinese press corps, who repeatedly drew the attention of White House staff and security officials as they maneuvered for position during Xi's visit.

Journalists in the White House press area described a series of confrontations as officials attempted to direct reporters and photographers into designated locations. Connor Stringer, chief Washington correspondent for The Telegraph, wrote on X that there was "chaos ahead of Xi Jinping's arrival at the White House" as members of the Chinese media contingent "push and shove their way into position."

Mary Margaret Olohan, White House correspondent for The Daily Wire, wrote Thursday on X, "Currently: squashed against a wall by Chinese press."

Stringer also reported "lots of shouting and raised voices" as reporters allegedly ignored requests from Secret Service personnel to move. He further referenced a previous incident during Trump's visit to Beijing, writing: "A reminder that they trampled a White House staff member during Donald Trump's state visit to Beijing."

The tensions came as press access has become a flashpoint in Washington. Multiple reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico initially reported being denied entry to the White House on Thursday despite a federal judge's order restoring their credentials, before being allowed back into the press area shortly before a court-imposed deadline for the administration to comply.

The episode also highlighted a broader contrast between the United States and China, where major media outlets operate under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party rather than as an independent press.

President Donald Trump began Thursday morning by sharing a Truth Social post featuring himself alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of their planned summit at the White House.

The image showed the two leaders standing near Xi's aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, with longtime Trump aide Natalie Harp visible in the background. The post included the words "Only Trump" above the photo, while one of the B-1 bombers that participated in Wednesday's flyover welcoming Xi was also visible in the image.

While first lady Melania Trump attended Wednesday's arrival ceremony for Xi and Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan at Andrews, she does not appear in the photograph Trump shared Thursday morning.

"He’s coming on our soil, and we need to welcome them with the most respect," Melania Trump said of Xi and his wife during a recent interview on Fox News Channel’s "Fox & Friends."

Harp has been one of Trump's closest aides and a constant presence at his side for years. Her role in the president's orbit has drawn renewed attention in recent weeks after Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff mentioned her by name during a speech criticizing Trump as he campaigns for reelection in Georgia.

More recently, CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins reported that Harp showed Trump media coverage that contributed to the White House's decision to deny Oval Office access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters. The White House has rejected that account.

Responding to the allegations last week, the White House told Newsweek: "The Fake News has no place demanding a spot in the President's Oval Office. The lies they smear are a disservice to the American public and tear at the very fabric of our Democracy. They're completely capable of reporting from directly outside."

Trump and Xi opened their highly anticipated White House summit Thursday with warm rhetoric, personal praise and repeated appeals for cooperation between the world's two most powerful countries.

Standing alongside Trump on the South Lawn after a red-carpet welcome and military honors, Xi said the U.S. and China should focus on shared interests rather than their longstanding disputes. The Chinese leader said he and Trump had developed a "personal rapport" over years of meetings and called for deeper engagement between the rival powers.

"We should strengthen communication," Xi said. "China and the United States are different in national condition, but through candid, in-depth, and continued dialogue, our two countries can understand each other better, seek common ground while shelving differences and build up mutual trust."

Xi argued that healthy competition between Washington and Beijing should be "kept within bounds" and said the two countries' militaries could "maintain regular dialogue" despite ongoing strategic tensions. He also highlighted artificial intelligence as an area where cooperation is essential, saying both nations have the "capability and responsibility" to ensure AI remains "under human control and serves the well-being of the people."

Xi Jinping also said two new pandas, male Pingping and female Fushuang, will soon arrive at Zoo Atlanta as part of China’s diplomacy.

“The giant panda has been an envoy of friendship between the Chinese and Americans. Here, I have a piece of good news. In a few days, two pandas, Pingping and Fushuang, will come to their new home in Zoo Atlanta and meet with the American people," Xi said.

Trump, meanwhile, sought to frame the relationship through history, recalling the alliance between China and the United States during World War II. He praised the Flying Tigers, the American volunteer pilots who helped defend China against Japan and told the audience that U.S. Marines adopted the phrase "gung ho" from Chinese, noting that it literally means "working together."

"We have spent time together all over the world," Trump said of Xi. "During those visits, we've forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually."

The president described Xi's visit as another chapter in that relationship, thanking the Chinese leader for the "spectacular and very beautiful hospitality" he received during his own trip to Beijing earlier this year. Trump said he and the first lady were "honored to host you" at the White House and promised to work with Xi "as our people worked together to win that war."

The symbolism extended beyond the ceremony. Trump announced that he and Xi will visit the National Archives on Friday to view the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding.

Outside the White House gates, the diplomatic fanfare was matched by rival demonstrations, with pro-Beijing supporters waving banners welcoming Xi while anti-Chinese Communist Party protesters chanted "Down with Xi Jinping" and "Shame on Xi Jinping."

After their press conference, the two world leaders and their wives participated in a military review in the Rose Garden.

Ahead of the ceremonial review in the Rose Garden, Trump and Xi strolled through the White House colonnade past portraits of America's presidents, with Trump pausing to point out his own likeness.

The flyover during Thursday's ceremony was noticeably quieter than the B-1 bomber pass at Joint Base Andrews a day earlier, when Trump appeared startled by the noise and briefly flinched as the aircraft roared overhead.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.