A tense exchange was caught on a hot mic Thursday as the summit between the U.S. and China began, according to The Daily Beast.
Inside the Great Hall of the People, Washington and Beijing's top officials were sitting down face-to-face for high-stakes bilateral talks. As they entered the room, a press pool camera that was broadcasting for PBS News was rolling live when someone with an American accent unloaded on the operator, The Beast reported.
"No, no, get the f--- out of here," the unknown person said. "No. Move. Got to move."
The camera started spinning towards the ceiling during the exchange as several people were speaking near the camera and the sound of shoes squeaking was captured.
The showdown was preceded by escalating tensions stemming from the Iran war, China's maneuvering around Taiwan, and years of economic conflict.
The leaders reportedly left the talks with "positive sentiments," according to The Beast. Chinese President Xi Jinping told reporters that relations between the two countries were "generally stable."
🚨 HOT MIC IN CHINA: "Get the F*CK out of here!" unknown voice says as the press and cameras struggle when President Trump and Xi walk in
Yikes! 👀 pic.twitter.com/LqDtVr75Zi
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 14, 2026
