Surprised By His Own Surprise: Trump Winces As B-1 Bombers Roar, Xi Goes Viral Unfazed

Xi arrived in Washington with his wife, Peng Liyuan, for a three-day state visit, his first trip to the US capital in more than a decade. Trump and first lady Melania Trump personally received the Chinese couple at the military airfield in an unusually elaborate welcome.

The ceremony featured a 100-foot red carpet, a 21-person honour cordon, US and Chinese flags, military formations, ceremonial cannon fire, a salute battery and the US Air Force Band. The two countries’ national anthems were played as Trump and Xi stood side by side on the tarmac.

Then came the B-1 bomber flyover. Two B-1 Lancers thundered overhead as the US national anthem played. Trump, who was saluting, appeared to duck, grit his teeth, turn towards the aircraft and lower his salute. Xi followed the bombers with his gaze but showed little visible reaction. Footage later appeared to show Trump telling Xi, “That was really loud.”

The moment triggered a wave of viral social-media reactions. Users joked that Trump looked “surprised by his own surprise”, while comments such as “Xi doesn’t look impressed” and “China has more than that” circulated online. These were social-media reactions, not statements from either leader.

Trump’s black gloves and long overcoat also drew attention because temperatures were around 64 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Some users speculated that the gloves could conceal bruising previously seen on his hands, but that explanation remains unverified.

The military display also included six F-16s and six F-22s, adding to the scale of the welcome.

Xi’s Hongqi N701 armoured state limousine also attracted attention. The vehicle is reportedly about 5.5 metres long and equipped with armour, bullet-resistant glass, run-flat tyres and secure communications. Joe Biden saw it during Xi’s 2023 San Francisco visit and called it a “beautiful vehicle”.

Trump’s own Beast presidential limousine similarly features heavy armour, bullet-resistant windows, run-flat tyres and secure communications.