US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent found himself at the centre of an awkward diplomatic moment during US President Donald Trump's high-profile trip to China, when Chinese security guards briefly blocked him from entering a major state event in Beijing. What might have been a routine security check quickly turned into a viral spectacle.
The recorded faux pas has since made its rounds on the internet, and netizens couldn't help but feel embarrassed for Bessent.
Avideocirculating online appeared to show Bessent being stopped outside the Great Hall of the People ahead of aformal banquet hosted in Trump's honourduring the president's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The footage reportedly captured Chinese security personnel pointing out that Bessent was missing a required entry or clearance pin on his suit jacket before preventing him from entering the building.
🇨🇳🇺🇸美國財長貝森特進入會場未佩戴參會標誌，直接被中方警衛攔下，直到隨行人員拿來證件才放他進去。這就對了，不管你是誰，都得按照規矩辦事。🤔pic.twitter.com/AOLCzfxe0f
After a brief exchange with officials and aides, Bessent was handed the missing credential and eventually allowed inside. The incident quickly went viral online, withcritics mocking the Treasury secretary's apparent embarrassmentduring one of the most closely watched diplomatic trips of Trump's second term.
The US Treasury Department has not publicly commented on the situation.
The awkward scene unfolded during an already tense and chaotic visit marked by multiple confrontations between American and Chinese officials. Earlier that same day, Chinese security reportedly blocked a US Secret Service agent from entering Beijing's Temple of Heaven complex while carrying a firearm, leading toa tense standoff that reportedly lasted around 30 minutes.
Later reports described several 'physical disputes' between US and Chinese personnel throughout the summit, including one incident in whicha White House aide was allegedly knocked downduring a crowded media rush surrounding Trump and Xi's bilateral meeting.
The Beijing summit itself carried enormous geopolitical significance as Trump and Xi discussed Taiwan, trade tensions, artificial intelligence cooperation and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Chinese state media reported that Xi warned Trump that theTaiwan issue could potentially trigger 'clashes and even conflicts'if mishandled by Washington.
Despite the tensions, the White House publicly portrayed the meetings as productive. Trump repeatedly praised Xi during the trip and described the Chinese leader as 'a great leader' during public remarks.
Source: International Business Times UK
