BEIJING — President Trump’s much-anticipated summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been marred by multiple physical altercations just offstage.
Among the incidents that took place Thursday:
- A White House staffer was trampled by Chinese reporters
- A Secret Service agent was kept out of official events
- American journalists were prevented from joining the presidential motorcade
The chaos was all captured by a cameraman accompanying “Rush Hour” director Brett Ratner as he prepares to shoot a fourth installment of the beloved feature film franchise.
As part of an effort by Chinese officials to keep a tight hold of their American guests and dictate coverage of a global news event, US reporters have been subject to strict controls — including limited access to bathrooms and the confiscation of water bottles.
No other hydration was provided to the American press despite bright sunshine and temperatures topping 80 degrees in the Chinese capital.
However, that proved a minor issue compared to three major flashpoints.
The first incident came when an aggressive Chinese press pack charged into Trump’s morning bilateral meeting with Xi, knocking down and then trampling over a White House advance team member.
The aide was bruised and shaken, though not seriously injured, and the incident caused her colleagues to loudly protest the Chinese media’s behavior.
The next confrontation came in the afternoon at the Temple of Heaven, when Chinese officials refused to admit a Secret Service agent accompanying the presidential press pool into the secure area because the agent was carrying a firearm — standard practice for the protective agency.
The Chinese version of a Mexican standoff ensued, with the press pool and American delegation refusing to move forward without the agent and Beijing officials determined to take his sidearm.
After a 30-minute delay and many arguments, another Secret Service agent who had already been cleared to proceed was summoned to escort reporters inside while the first agent stayed behind.
Trump and Xi arrived late for the temple visit after their bilateral meeting ran long.
After the two men posed for photos, they continued their tour while the American press were taken to a holding room and shut in.
When the time came for Trump to depart, Chinese officials refused to allow the reporters to rejoin the presidential motorcade, prompting another round of loud arguments.
At one point amid the repeated cries of “we have to go,” a White House official told the Chinese the Trump administration would never treat them this way if the roles were reversed.
Finally, with Trump in the motorcade and waiting for the press, a White House staffer announced: “We are going.” That was the cue for the American contingent to push their way past the Chinese and run out the door.
As the group crossed the temple grounds to catch the motorcade, another set of Chinese officials tried to stop them, running with their arms out toward the group. But the Americans pressed on and reached the line of cars that made up the presidential convoy.
Adding to the surreal scene was the presence of Ratner’s camerman, an unusual addition to the press pool.
The auteur, who traveled with Trump to China on board Air Force One, told The Post earlier this week that the camerman was scouting locations and checking lighting around the Chinese capital before filming on “Rush Hour 4” starts later this year — and not shooting a follow-up to Ratner’s documentary “Melania.”
Security and image control are major concerns for the Chinese. Surveillance cameras are visible every few feet in Beijing — including on on street lights and stoplights to provide near-continuous coverage of the city.
In order to protect vital data from hackers, President Trump, administration staff, and reporters have been told to user burner phones and email addresses during the two-day summit.
