Trump's Delegation Discards Items from China Before Departing for the US
Items distributed by Chinese officials to President of the United States Donald Trump’s delegation were reportedly discarded before they left China on the presidential aircraft, Air Force One.
According to The Daily Express, Saturday (16/5/2026), reports from the field revealed that before boarding Air Force One, staff from the American delegation took all the items distributed by Chinese officials to the press group and threw them away.
According to Emily Goodin, a journalist from the New York Post, the items included “identification cards, disposable phones from White House staff, and delegation badges.”
“American staff took all the items distributed by Chinese officials - identification cards, disposable cell phones from White House staff, delegation badges - collected them before we boarded AF1 (Air Force One) and threw them in the trash under the stairs,” Goodin wrote on social media X.
“No items from China are allowed on the plane. We will be departing for America soon,” she added.
During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping also welcomed Trump at his official residence, Zhongnanhai, for their final meeting before the US leader returned to Washington.
The two leaders took a short walk in the courtyard, which featured ancient trees and Chinese roses.
While drinking tea and having lunch, Trump and Xi - along with key aides and interpreters - talked for nearly three hours before the US leader concluded his visit.
“These have been truly amazing days,” Trump told reporters.
According to Chinese government officials, Xi warned Trump during a private conversation that their differences regarding the self-governing island of Taiwan, if handled poorly, could push the world’s dominant powers towards “clash and even conflict.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News that US policy towards Taiwan “has not changed.” He warned that it would be a “big mistake” for China to try to seize Taiwan by force. He also described Xi’s comments as standard practice.