Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Red Carpet Video Draws Backlash During Xi Jinping’s US Welcome
Xi Jinping, China’s president, visited the United States for three days.
The visit was supposed to focus on trade, artificial intelligence, and international relations.
Before Xi left his airplane, US military personnel were shown fixing a long red carpet.
The short video spread widely online.
Some people said it was embarrassing for the United States.
One critic said the military should not be used to make a foreign leader look more important.
Trump gave Xi a very formal welcome at the military base.
The welcome included airplanes flying overhead and a 21-gun salute.
The two countries still disagree about trade, technology, Taiwan, and security while continuing diplomatic talks.
A 12-second video shows US military personnel adjusting a 30-metre red carpet before Xi Jinping’s arrival.
The footage was recorded at Joint Base Andrews as Chinese officials watched from the aircraft doorway.
Online critics called the scene humiliating and questioned why US service members handled the carpet.
Amy McGrath said service members should not be used as “props” in an authoritarian spectacle.
Donald Trump’s welcome included a plane-side greeting, military flyovers, a 21-gun salute, and a formal White House ceremony.
- Who
- Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump, Chinese officials, and US military personnel were involved in the reported arrival ceremony.
- What
- A video of US military personnel adjusting a red carpet during Xi Jinping’s arrival sparked online criticism amid a lavish state welcome.
- When
- The articles identify the arrival as September 24, 2026, but describe it variously as Wednesday and Thursday.
- Where
- Joint Base Andrews and the White House in the United States.
- Why
- The visit focused on bilateral discussions about trade, artificial intelligence, international relations, and broader disagreements involving technology, Taiwan, and security.
Online Critics
Formal Ceremony View
Military personnel and the red carpet
Online Critics
Critics questioned why US service members were on their hands and knees adjusting a carpet for a foreign leader and called the scene humiliating.
Formal Ceremony View
The reported arrival formed part of an unusually formal welcome that included military protocol, flyovers, a salute, and a White House ceremony; the articles do not report an official defense of the carpet work.
Meaning of the welcome
Online Critics
Amy McGrath said service members had not sworn an oath to serve as props in an authoritarian ego-stroking spectacle.
Formal Ceremony View
The ceremony presented a high-level diplomatic welcome for a visiting head of state while the United States and China continued discussions despite major disagreements.
- Video length
- 12 seconds
- Carpet length
- 30 metres, or 98 feet
- Visit duration
- Three days
- Arrival location
- Joint Base Andrews
- Chinese delegation
- Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, protocol chief Hong Lei, and other delegation members
- Welcome features
- A plane-side greeting, military flyovers, a 21-gun salute, and a formal White House arrival ceremony
- Online reaction
- Critics described the carpet preparations as humiliating and “freaking shameful”