WASHINGTON, September 24 — A video showing US military personnel hurriedly cleaning and straightening a red carpet moments before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention to the elaborate welcome arranged for the Chinese leader.
The 12-second clip shows several uniformed US service members on their hands and knees adjusting and cleaning the red carpet at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland shortly before Xi stepped out of his aircraft. The carpet was about 30 metres, or 98 feet, long.
The footage circulated widely on US social media on September 24, with users debating the level of ceremony surrounding Xi’s state visit.
Xi arrived at Joint Base Andrews on September 23 for a state visit to the United States, accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump personally greeted the Chinese president and his wife on the tarmac — an unusual presidential welcome at the military base.
The arrival ceremony included the national anthems of the United States and China, a 21-gun salute, an honour guard and an extensive military flyover.
The aerial display included two B-1 Lancer bombers as well as F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, adding to the high-profile ceremonial reception for the Chinese president.
The viral red-carpet clip captured preparations taking place just before Xi emerged from the aircraft. Chinese officials could be seen waiting at the aircraft doorway while US personnel completed the final adjustments to the carpet.
The moment became a talking point online, with some social media users characterising the preparations as an unusually elaborate welcome for the Chinese leader. The broader reception itself was notable because sitting US presidents rarely personally greet visiting foreign leaders at Joint Base Andrews.
Xi’s visit comes as Washington and Beijing continue high-level engagement on major issues affecting US-China relations, including trade, technology and artificial intelligence.