Trump’s reaction to military flyover with Xi Jinping goes viral

WASHINGTON: A video showing US President Donald Trump reacting to the sound of military aircraft during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States has attracted widespread attention on social media.

The footage, shared across social media platforms, shows Trump appearing to close his eyes and briefly duck during a loud military flyover staged as part of the welcoming ceremony for Xi.

Xi, standing alongside Trump during the ceremony, appeared to remain composed and showed little visible reaction to the noise, according to the footage circulating online.

The moment quickly became a talking point on social media, with users sharing the clip and commenting on the contrasting reactions of the two leaders.

The incident occurred during Xi’s high-profile US visit, his first trip to Washington in more than a decade. Trump personally welcomed the Chinese president at Joint Base Andrews before the leaders continued with an elaborate state programme in Washington.

The military flyover formed part of the ceremonial welcome arranged for Xi, reflecting the importance attached to the Chinese leader’s visit.

Trump’s reaction, rather than the ceremony itself, became the focus of the viral video. In the footage, he can be seen lowering his head and closing his eyes as several military aircraft pass overhead.

Xi, meanwhile, remained standing beside the US president without an obvious response, creating a brief contrast that caught the attention of viewers.

The viral clip comes as Trump and Xi hold talks covering some of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations, including trade, tariffs, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and technology restrictions.

The two leaders are also seeking to project stability in their relationship despite significant strategic and economic disagreements between Washington and Beijing.

The summit has attracted considerable international attention because it could influence the direction of relations between the world’s two largest economies.

While the flyover was intended as part of the formal welcome, the contrasting reactions captured on camera have given the otherwise highly choreographed ceremony an unexpected social-media moment.