From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 1:49 PM CST
With further apologies, last pool note should have been #11. So this is back to the correct number, which is #12. White House forwards the following: These were the CEOs present at the ceremony earlier. Additional CEOs will join the US delegation later in the day. Apple (Tim Cook) Blackstone (Stephen Schwarzman) Boeing (Kelly Ortberg) Cargill (Brian Sikes) Citigroup (Jane Fraser) GE Aerospace (H. Lawrence Culp Jr.)…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 1:41 PM CST
POTUS Is rolling from the Temple of Heaven, after another brief delay while US staff and reporters had an even more spirited discussion with Chinese officials, who several times tried to stop them from leaving and joining the motorcade. Danny Kemp AFP White House Correspondent
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 1:25 PM CST
Trump’s short quote was actually as follows, after listening back to recording — he said ‘great’ rather than ‘wait’ it appears. “Great. Great place. Incredible. China’s beautiful,” Trump said after the question about how the talks went. Many apologies for the error. Pool is now holding, while US and Chinese officials - who are keeping us in a side room - have a spirited debate about whether we can move. Danny Kemp A…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 1:15 PM CST
POTUS entered the main courtyard where the Temple of Heaven is located at 1.05pm, and could be seen from a distance talking to a crowd of officials. Xi and Trump walked slowly across the flagstones, with interpreters, and Xi could be heard talking. Trump and Xi stood in front of the temple together in front of the cameras. Trump said ‘wait’ when a reporter asked how the talks went. ‘China’s beautiful,’ he said. Repo…
From Arnsdorf, IsaacSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 1:13 PM CST
The pool entered the temple platform behind the presidents and briefly saw them speaking to a huddle of cameras. We could not hear what Trump was saying. The presidents then moved ahead to another area closer to the other pool, and we were ushered out.
From Arnsdorf, IsaacSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 12:55 PM CST
The president and his team left the Great Hall of the People from the north side doors at 12:52 p.m., taking a red carpet down the stairs to his limo. We could not see him enter the car. The motorcade departed at 12:54 p.m.
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 12:44 PM CST
The Trump Xi bilat has wrapped, a WH official said. Pool calculates meeting lasted 2 hours and 15. The pool’s entry to the temple complex was delayed by nearly half an hour by a lengthy and increasingly intense discussion between US and Chinese officials, after Chinese security refused to allow a Secret Service agent accompanying the pool to enter the temple compound with his weapon. A compromise was eventually foun…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 13, 2026 11:36 AM CST
Pool has arrived at the Temple of Heaven after a hair-raising drive through Beijing and is now going through security again. No info on whether the Trump Ci bilat at the Great Hall is still ongoing, but supplemental pool with POTUS there will let us know when the motorcade moves. Danny Kemp AFP White House Correspondent
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 11:06 AM CST
CEO’s Elon Musk, Jensen Huang and Tim Cook were spotted leaving the front entrance of the GHOP and pool shouted some questions about how the meetings had gone as they went down the steps to their bus. “Wonderful,” said Musk. Asked what had been achieved, Musk said: “Many good things.” Tim Cook gave a peace sign then the thumbs up “Meetings went well,” said Huang. “Mr Xi and President Trump were incredible.” Pool is…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 10:37 AM CST
A few top Trump quotes from his opening remarks. Press were then ushered out with no chance for questions. Now holding. Trump said it was an ‘honor like few I’ve ever seen before’ and said he was particularly impressed by the children. “The children were amazing.” “You’re a great leader,” Trump told Xi. “It’s an honor to be your friend” “We’re going to have a fantastic future together” “There are some who say it’s g…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 10:29 AM CST
Pool was ushered at great haste into huge chandelierd meeting room at 10.25am. Trump, Xi and their delegations weee already sitting around enormous Dr Strangelove style table, opposite each other. Rubio on Trump’s left Xi gave opening remarks, no translation. Trump watching silently as Xi speaks, sitting slightly forward in chair Danny Kemp AFP White House Correspondent
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 10:16 AM CST
POTUS and Xi moved to the raised red and gold dais as the Chinese military band played the Star Spangled Banner. Trump saluted as cannon fire rang out across Tianenmen Square. Both leaders then stood to attention for the Chinese national anthem. Trump and Xi inspected an honor guard of several lines of Chinese troops in various ceremonial uniforms in blue and white with bayoneted rifles. Nearest us is a group of rif…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 10:06 AM
Trump’s motorcade arrived at the Great Hall at 10.01am, almost exactly on schedule. It slowly drew to a halt and Trump emerged at 10.03, wearing a suit and red tie. A band played a fanfare He walked over to Xi who was standing by the steps and they shook hands for a couple of seconds, with Trump briefly patting Xi’s hand. Xi, accompanied by Trump, then shook hands with the US delegation front row Before his arrival…
From Arnsdorf, IsaacSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 10:04 AM
Police and a scattered clumps of spectators lined the fenced-off route. The motorcade passed through an embassy district and turned onto the 2nd ring road. The motorcade turned again to approach Tiananmen Square. Motorists stopped in the other direction recorded on their phones. The crowds of onlookers thickened. The motorcade crossed Tiananmen, passing Mao’s tomb, and turned into the driveway of the Great Hall of t…
From Danny KEMPSent Wednesday, May 13, 2026 9:27 AM CST
Good morning from Beijing, I’ll be your print pooler today and tomorrow. It’s warm at 77 F / 25 C today and sunny with a light haze of smog. The pool has moved to the Great Hall of the People in advance of POTUS. A supplemental pooler will be with the motorcade for POTUS’s drive from the RON to the Hall. A long double column of white uniformed Chinese police motorcyclists was parked outside the RON. We passed throug…
This National Police Week, America honors the brave men and women of law enforcement who risk their lives daily to protect our communities. Under President Donald J. Trump, these heroes are respected, empowered, and supported — not defunded, demonized, or betrayed by the Radical Left. After four years of Democrats’ war on police, President Trump has delivered decisive leadership that puts officers back in control —…