Video of US Troops Polishing Red Carpet for China's Xi Sparks Outrage
A 12-second clip reveals how far Washington went to impress Beijing — and critics aren't happy.
A 12-second video shows uniformed US military personnel on their hands and knees hurriedly smoothing and cleaning a 30-metre (98-foot) red carpet moments before Chinese President Xi Jinping emerged from his aircraft at Joint Base Andrews. President Donald Trump gave Xi a rare plane-side welcome — unusual for a US president at the base — with military flyovers by two B-1 Lancer bombers, six F-16 and six F-22 fighters, along with honour guards and a 21-gun salute. The clip circulated widely on US social media, where commenters drew comparisons with Trump's treatment of other world leaders, and critics pointed to the lavish welcome.
- A 12-second clip shows US troops on their hands and knees cleaning a red carpet right before Xi Jinping stepped off his plane.
- Trump gave Xi an unusually grand welcome, including fighter jet flyovers and a 21-gun salute — a plane-side greeting that hasn't been standard since 1962.
- The video sparked anger online, with Americans asking why their military was tidying up for a rival superpower's leader.
Why It Matters
It shows how much the US is willing to flatter rivals — and how quickly voters judge those gestures.