As Chinese President Xi Jinping was being greeted, President Donald Trump winced visibly during a loud military flyover. This happened Wednesday evening at Joint Base Andrews, per the Washington Examiner. The 80-year-old leader flinched in apparent pain as two B-1 bombers roared overhead. His reaction stood out against the stoic composure of the 73-year-old Chinese president.
Xi did not show any visible reaction to the noise, according to the Daily Wire. Before smiling and seeming to comment on the noise to Xi, Trump briefly ducked his head. The aircraft flew as the American national anthem played. Trump stood saluting when the loud jets passed. At the base of a roughly 100-foot red carpet, he and First Lady Melania Trump waited.
This event marked a shift in how presidents usually greet foreign leaders. When Xi disembarked from the plane, Trump rolled out the red carpet, though the action faced a brief delay.
While Chinese officials observed from the aircraft, workers smoothed the carpet, according to the Washington Examiner. Instead of traveling to the airport, visiting heads of state are usually greeted by Presidents at the White House. According to the Daily Wire, Trump's choice to meet Xi at the airport marked a deviation from standard presidential protocol.
Melania Trump defended the decision Wednesday morning. She said Xi was "coming on our soil" and that the United States should "welcome them with the most respect." The ceremony featured a 21-person honor cordon and color guards carrying both nations' flags. A military band played both countries' national anthems. The Wednesday greeting also included ceremonial cannon fire and music from the Air Force band.
After conversing for several minutes, the pair departed separately for Washington, D.C., with plans to reunite Thursday for the next visit segment. On Thursday, the president will host Xi for a subsequent arrival ceremony. A highly anticipated state dinner is scheduled for Thursday evening. The Washington Examiner reported that several Big Tech executives are anticipated to attend that dinner.