A tense exchange was caught on a hot mic Thursday as the summit between the U.S. and China began, according to The Daily Beast.
Inside the Great Hall of the People, Washington and Beijing’s top officials were sitting down face-to-face for high-stakes bilateral talks. As they entered the room, a press pool camera that was broadcasting for PBS News was rolling live when someone with an American accent unloaded on the operator, The Beast reported.
“No, no, get the f— out of here,” the unknown person said. “No. Move. Got to move.”
The camera started spinning towards the ceiling during the exchange as several people were speaking near the camera and the sound of shoes squeaking was captured.
The showdown was preceded by escalating tensions stemming from the Iran war, China’s maneuvering around Taiwan, and years of economic conflict.
The leaders reportedly left the talks with “positive sentiments,” according to The Beast. Chinese President Xi Jinping told reporters that relations between the two countries were “generally stable.”
HOT MIC IN CHINA: “Get the F*CK out of here!” unknown voice says as the press and cameras struggle when President Trump and Xi walk in Yikes!
pic.twitter.com/LqDtVr75Zi — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 14, 2026
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As they took their seats, a press pool camera broadcasting on PBS News kept its tape rolling whilst its operator appeared to be lambasted by an unnamed person with an American accent.
Trump Grovels to ‘Great’ Chinese Leader in First Key MeetingBE MY FRIENDCatherine Bouris
Trump yacking at Xi outside Beijing’s Temple of Heaven on Thursday.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“No, no, get the f— out of here,” the mystery person said. “No. Move. Got to move.”
At that moment, several voices started speaking close to the camera, the squeak of shoes on the ground could be heard, and the camera flailed, darting across the ceiling.
Tensions had been high ahead of the showdown, as the war with Iran, Chinese posturing over Taiwan, and long-standing economic hostility all simmered away.
Still, the two leaders left the Great Hall with positive sentiments afterward, with Chinese President Xi Jinping saying that relations had remained “generally stable.”
Trump has been shown a time full of pageantry so far in China.Alex Wong/Alex Wong/Getty Images
“Today, President Trump and I had in-depth exchanges on China-U.S. relations and the international and regional dynamics,” he said, according to The Guardian. “We both believe that the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We must make it work and never mess it up.
“Both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Our two countries should be partners rather than rivals.”
In the White House’s statement following the meeting, there was a similar tone of understanding, but it became clear that Trump’s activity around the Strait of Hormuz had become a cause for concern for China.
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