US2 min(s) read
Donald Trump’s extravagant display put on to impress the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, appears to have sparked an awkward reaction from his biggest global rival.
The arrival of Xi Jinping yesterday, September 23, has been much anticipated by the White House, which pulled out all the stops to impress the powerful leader ahead of crucial talks about Russia, Iran, and artificial intelligence.
Military bands, fighter jets, and a 100ft red carpet were all in place to greet the Chinese president and his wife Peng Liyuan as they arrived at Joint Base Andrews.
While the bands played the national anthems of China and the US, Trump and Melania stood ready and waiting to shake hands the moment they stepped off the plane.
This is an unusual move from Trump, whose normal protocol is to meet visitors at the White House after they have landed.
However, the peacocking display from Trump did not seem to impress Xi. At one moment, as the US national anthem was pumped into the air, two B-1 bombers pierced through the sky, making a deafening noise, and the Chinese president winced in obvious discomfort.
Although it is possible that Trump was simply showing off his toys to impress, flying huge, brand-spanking new military aircraft overhead could have been an intimidation tactic.
Moments after the ear-splitting flyover, Trump was seen shaking his head in admiration while grinning and muttering something before saluting to the sky.
Not matching the same energy as his host, Xi seemed completely unfazed by the aircraft.
B-1 bombers, also known as B-1 Lancers, are long-range, supersonic bomber jets designed to carry weapons over long distances. They are also nuclear-capable bombers that can fly at supersonic speeds, making them something Trump was delighted to flaunt in front of Xi.
The display may have been so flamboyant because it is the first time that Xi Jinping has visited the United States since 2015, when Barack Obama was president. He is expected to be in the US for just three days to accommodate crucial conversations between the world leaders.
The pair will also attend the UN General Assembly alongside many other world leaders in New York.
It comes at a time when tensions between the two economic powerhouses are extremely high as Trump's tariffs are beginning to sting, despite the US president suspending increases in the tariffs.
