Video of US military adjusting red carpet for China’s Xi sparks online backlash

South China Morning Post - Sep 24, 2026

A video clip showing uniformed US military personnel on their hands and knees making last-minute adjustments to a red carpet has gone viral online, as President Donald Trump rolled out a lavish welcome for his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews. The 12-second clip, which circulated widely on US social media, captured several service members hurriedly smoothing and cleaning the 30-metre (98 feet) carpet moments before Xi emerged from his aircraft. Chinese officials – including...

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