A brief moment involving US President Donald Trump during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in Washington has gone viral on social media after Trump appeared to wince as military aircraft flew overhead during the welcome ceremony.
Xi arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, September 23, beginning a three-day state visit to the United States. Trump made a rare personal appearance at the airport to welcome the Chinese president and his wife, Peng Liyuan. First Lady Melania Trump was also present at the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Trump and Xi stood side by side as military aircraft passed overhead. Videos from the event showed Trump saluting before looking upward as the aircraft approached. He appeared to briefly tense his face and then turn towards Xi.
The footage quickly spread across social media, where users focused on the contrasting reactions of the two leaders. Xi appeared relatively composed as the aircraft flew overhead, while Trump's facial expression attracted significant attention. Reports identified the aircraft involved in the flypast as B-1 bombers.
Some social media users criticised Trump, questioning why he appeared surprised by the flypast when it was part of a carefully planned welcome ceremony. Several posts described the moment as an awkward one and suggested that the military display did not have the effect intended.
Others defended Trump and focused instead on the significance of the military display. Supporters highlighted the presence of advanced US military aircraft and described the flypast as a demonstration of American military capability.
The incident also drew comparisons with Trump's previous meetings with foreign leaders. During his 2025 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a B-2 stealth bomber and fighter jets had flown overhead as part of the welcome arrangements. The different reactions seen in footage from the two events were later discussed by social media users.
Xi's visit comes after more than a decade since his previous visit to the United States. His arrival was marked by an unusually high-profile welcome, including a red carpet ceremony and a military display at Joint Base Andrews. The White House had announced that Trump and Melania Trump would host Xi and Peng at the White House during the visit.
The three-day visit is expected to include formal meetings, a state arrival ceremony and a state dinner. The two countries are also dealing with several major issues, including trade, technology, artificial intelligence and broader US-China relations.
The viral flypast video, however, has become one of the most widely discussed moments from Xi's arrival. While social media users have offered different interpretations of Trump's expression, the footage itself shows only a brief reaction during the aircraft flyover and does not establish what Trump was thinking or why he reacted that way.
Xi's visit is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by Washington and Beijing to manage tensions and maintain dialogue between the world's two largest economies.
Reader Comments 0