White House staffers and reporters who accompanied President Donald Trump to China this past week were instructed to discard burner phones and other items provided by Chinese officials before boarding Air Force One for the return journey, according to reports. The move was taken to prevent any possibility of espionage, amid longstanding tensions between the two nations over cyber attacks and intelligence gathering.
Security Measures Before Departure
Shortly before leaving Beijing, American staffers collected all items distributed by Chinese authorities—including badges, press credentials, and burner phones used during the trip—and placed them in a bin at the bottom of the aircraft's stairs, Emily Goodin, White House Correspondent for the New York Post, reported on X on Friday. “Nothing from China allowed on the plane,” Goodin wrote. Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt also confirmed that sources told her all Americans were required to use burner phones and later destroy them to avoid any surveillance risks.
Phone Usage Restrictions
Earhardt elaborated on “Fox and Friends,” stating that American phones were either left behind or turned off and not used while in China. “All the Americans were using burner phones and they had to destroy them and leave them in China. They don’t want anything that belongs to the Chinese left on that plane because they could be bugged, there could be spies,” she said. Additionally, reporters were asked to return red lapel badges given by Chinese officials to identify the press pool, as China requested them back, according to the Friday designated White House pooler.
U.S.-China Relations
The United States and China have a historically complex relationship, marked by economic and technological rivalry, as well as mutual suspicion over foreign intervention, particularly regarding Taiwan. U.S. intelligence agencies have accused China of conducting cyber attacks, such as the Salt Typhoon group believed to be state-sponsored, targeting American infrastructure. Despite these tensions, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping maintained a cordial public demeanor during the visit, even discussing espionage openly. Trump told reporters on Air Force One, “It’s one of those things because we spy like hell on them too,” acknowledging reciprocal intelligence activities.
The Independent has sought comment from the White House regarding the security protocols.
