Chinese media scuffle with US journalists, Secret Service during Xi visit

Members of the Chinese press corps traveling with President Xi Jinping scuffled with U.S. journalists and Secret Service personnel at the White House on Thursday as reporters scrambled to cover the Chinese leader’s state visit.

Videos posted online showed several confrontations throughout the day, including Chinese journalists arguing with White House staff and Secret Service agents over where they could stand during Xi’s arrival ceremony and military review in the Rose Garden.

One video showed journalists packed together as they competed for space ahead of Xi’s arrival. An American journalist could be heard saying, “You’re stepping on my feet.”

Another dispute broke out on the South Lawn over the positioning of U.S. outlets and Chinese state media.

Washington Examiner White House correspondent Christian Datoc said Secret Service and White House officials threatened to remove a Chinese official who was interfering with official White House camera positions.

Video from the scene showed agents attempting to move members of the Chinese press as voices were raised.

Tensions continued inside the White House, where a Chinese photographer reportedly shoved a female American reporter in a packed briefing room as journalists rushed to cover President Trump and Xi’s meeting in the Oval Office.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also reportedly reacted to a disruption created by the Chinese press corps in the Grand Foyer of the White House, according to Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan, who described the visiting press corps as “incredibly loud and aggressive.”

Trump reportedly joked that China had the friendliest press corps.

The confrontations unfolded during a chaotic day for the White House press corps.

Journalists from major television networks ABC, CBS News, NBC News and Fox News were present at the White House but continued withholding their participation in the television pool until they received confirmation that CNN, MS NOW and Politico had regained access to the complex.

The three outlets, barred from the White House by Trump last week, were allowed back in around midday Thursday after a federal judge ordered the White House to restore their access, following a court hearing Wednesday.

Still, some CNN and MS NOW reporters were blocked from covering the state dinner for Xi on Thursday evening.