Donald Trump's historic visit to Beijing this week marked a significant milestone in the diplomatic efforts of his second term. However, amidst the lavish state dinners and high-stakes negotiations with President Xi Jinping, the US delegation drew attention for several eyebrow-raising antics.
Trump Caught Peeking at Notes
In an on-camera incident that went viral across social media, Trump was seen sneaking a glance at preparation notes left on the table just seconds after Xi stood up during a state dinner. Many speculated that Trump was trying to read Xi's notes to gain an advantage. However, it was quickly pointed out that the notebook bore the US presidential seal, indicating he was likely reviewing his own memos for the critical meeting.
Nvidia CEO's Noodle Adventure
While much of Trump's trip focused on deal-making and posturing between the two nations, the large US delegation, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Apple chief Tim Cook, and Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, also found time for fun. In a moment that Chinese social media reportedly celebrated, Huang—born in Taiwan but living in California—broke away from Trump's schedule to enjoy a bowl of zhajiangmian noodles, a traditional Chinese dish with soybean sauce. Huang exclaimed 'wow!' as he ate, raising his eyebrows and pointing to the eatery behind him, adding, 'This is so good.'
Musk's Irritation at Being Mobbed
Another moment appeared to show Musk growing visibly irritated as Chinese business leaders mobbed him during meetings. Footage from the state banquet on Wednesday showed the billionaire rolling his eyes and sighing exasperatedly as leaders snapped photos from a distance. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun approached Musk for a photo, to which Musk reluctantly agreed, posing with a strange, wink-like expression before immediately turning to check his phone. That same evening, Musk posed with Apple CEO Tim Cook, pulling a series of quirky faces.
Rubio's Awe at Decorations
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was seen gazing up in awe at the decorations in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. He let his focus on negotiations slip as he pointed to the eye-catching ornamentation, at one point nudging Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to also compliment the decor.
Trump Hails 'Fantastic Deals'
The lighthearted moments came as Trump lauded the whirlwind trip as a success, boasting that he reached 'fantastic trade deals' with Xi. As he left Asia on Friday, Trump said he had been seeking common ground on trade, tariffs, Tehran, and Taiwan. Trump lavished praise on his 'friend' Xi, calling him 'a great leader.' He added that Xi 'very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation,' but noted Xi was referring to the Biden administration. 'He was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100 percent correct,' Trump said in a social media post.
It remains unclear whether Xi made the dig publicly or privately. At the top of his remarks Thursday, Xi mused whether the US and China could avoid the 'Thucydides trap,' a theory suggesting war may result when tensions rise between a rising power and a ruling power. Xi struck a less positive tone, noting in a readout: 'I have agreed with President Trump on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.' He added, 'The two countries should expand exchanges and cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people ties and law enforcement.'
