Before departing China, US President Donald Trump was given a rare and personal tour of Zhongnanhai, the guarded complex where China's top leaders live and work, by President Xi Jinping. The two leaders walked through the walled-off imperial garden of Xi's opulent palace, with cameras capturing Xi guiding Trump by the hand through an archway to a grove of 300-year-old trees.
An Unscripted Exchange
As Xi explained how some of the trees had merged together over centuries, Trump stopped the tour with a blunt question. Turning to his translator, he asked: 'Can you ask the President: when other presidents or prime ministers from other countries visit, does he bring them here?' Xi replied with a chuckle, 'Very rarely. For example, Putin has been here.'
The moment was one of the few unscripted interactions between the two leaders during the high-stakes summit. At the end of the tour, Trump stopped in front of cameras to express his admiration for the fortified compound, stating: 'I could get used to this.'
Standard Precautions
Hours later, before boarding Air Force One, Trump's team disposed of the Chinese gifts and items collected during the trip. This is a standard precaution against listening devices and other intelligence threats, reflecting the careful security protocols observed during such diplomatic visits.
