Xi maintains composure during US military flyover for historic tarmac welcome
At Joint Base Andrews where Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for the visiting Chinese president, Xi Jinping appeared unfazed during a ceremonial flyover by a screeching US bomber while the US president visibly winced at the noise. As Xi arrived at the military base just outside Washington on Thursday, he was greeted with a ceremony that included the US Air Force band playing the American…
Joint Base Andrews witnessed a somber scene as Donald Trump, the US president, greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping with a red carpet. The ceremony, held on Thursday, featured the US Air Force band playing both the American and Chinese national anthems, a 21-gun salute, a guard of honor, and a flyover by six F-16 and six F-22 fighter jets, along with two B-1 Lancer bombers.
As the US national anthem played, Trump, saluting, visibly winced and ducked at the sound, lowering his salute in front of reporters and cameramen. In contrast, Xi remained composed, his gaze following the bomber to the right as it flew by. Trump later remarked to Xi, "That was really loud." This marked the first presidential welcome for a foreign leader at Joint Base Andrews since 1962, when John F. Kennedy greeted British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.
Following the ceremony, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the reception, stating that the US-China relationship will define the 21st century and that both nations are powerful militarily with significant military build-ups.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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