Melania Refuses Xi Jinping's Handshake...Steps Back With Raised Hand?

Melania Seen Refusing Xi Jinping's Handshake
However, the Two Had Just Shaken Hands Moments Earlier

As Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first U.S. state visit in 11 years came to a close, a scene in which First Lady Melania Trump appeared to decline a handshake from President Xi during the final farewell has sparked widespread discussion. However, footage from just before the incident clearly shows the two had already shaken hands, leading some observers to caution against interpreting the gesture as a simple 'handshake rejection.'

Chinese President Xi Jinping (second from left) and First Lady Peng Liyuan (left) are bidding their final farewell to U.S. President Donald Trump (second from right) and First Lady Melania Trump (right). SNS capture

President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan made a state visit to the United States from the 23rd to the 25th (local time). On the final day, the presidential couples visited the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where they viewed major documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution before bidding farewell. The White House described this as the first visit to the White House by a Chinese president in over a decade.

"We Did That Earlier"... Melania Declines Xi Jinping’s Second Handshake

In a video circulating online, President Trump shakes hands with President Xi one last time before President Xi turns to Melania Trump. As President Xi extends his hand, Melania raises her own, seeming to signal a gentle refusal, and steps back. President Xi responds with a slight nod and Melania then proceeds to shake hands with Peng Liyuan.

This moment has fueled online speculation, with many interpreting it as a 'refused handshake.' However, a complete review of the footage shows that President Xi and Melania Trump had already exchanged handshakes immediately prior. Therefore, some suggest that the gesture was more likely a momentary part of protocol rather than a deliberate rejection.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (second from left) and his wife Peng Liyuan (left) are saying their final goodbyes to U.S. President Donald Trump (second from right) and his wife Melania (right). SNS capture

President Trump was also filmed saying his goodbyes by shaking hands not only with President Xi but with the accompanying staff, including a male translator from the Chinese side and a female translator from the U.S. side. In contrast, there were not as many visible interactions between President Xi and his delegation.

Certain media outlets highlighted the differing attitudes of the two leaders toward their delegations. One outlet noted, "What the media cameras captured was the attitude, etiquette, and dignity displayed by both leaders in their interactions with those who stood slightly removed from the center of official protocol." It added, "For Xi Jinping, these individuals were retainers, but for Trump, they were professional collaborators."

Summit After 11 Years... Agreements in Eight Areas

This visit marked President Xi’s first state visit to the United States in 11 years. The leaders of the two countries held a summit at the White House where they discussed topics such as trade, narcotics control, artificial intelligence (AI), and international issues. According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries agreed to build a constructive and strategically stable relationship based on 'mutual respect, fairness, and equality.'

The 'eight-point outcomes' released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs include a mutual reduction of tariffs worth 30 billion dollars, the establishment of economic consultative bodies such as a Trade Commission, cooperation on narcotics control, the creation of AI dialogue channels and communication networks relating to AI incidents, and mutual support within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Group of Twenty (G20). The White House also highlighted the mutual preferential tariffs on non-sensitive goods worth 30 billion dollars, APEC and G20 cooperation, and the establishment of AI-related dialogue channels as key achievements.

In AI, the focus was on institutionalizing potential cooperation. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the two sides agreed to build ongoing discussions on both the risks and benefits of AI, to hold additional consultations in November, and to establish bilateral communication channels to address AI-related incidents.

However, much of the agreement is conditioned on future negotiations and implementation. How the U.S. and China will translate these agreements into concrete policies and business practices remains a major factor in determining the future stability of their relations.

Chinese Media Hail "Historic Achievement"... Also Pressure U.S. on Implementation

Chinese media outlet Global Times gave a positive assessment of the summit's outcomes. In an editorial on the 28th, Global Times highlighted the 'major signal' sent by the eight-point agreement, noting that the two countries are moving in the same direction and sending a clear message about seeking peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial prosperity.

Particularly, the constructive strategic stability rooted in 'mutual respect, fairness, and equality' was cited as a political achievement. Global Times explained that 'respect' refers to recognizing a counterpart’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, social system, development path, core interests, and major concerns. 'Fairness' was described as refraining from pursuing absolute unilateral advantage, and 'equality' as both countries acting as equals without coercive behavior, treating each other’s interests on an equal footing.

The article also emphasized that cooperation on tariff reduction and narcotics control could yield substantive results through negotiation. Mutual support at APEC and G20 summits was interpreted as a sign of enhanced multilateral cooperation and a shared pursuit of international stability and growth.

However, Global Times asserted, "Agreements must be supported by concrete actions," and stressed that it remains to be seen whether the United States will follow through on promises concerning tariffs, technology controls, and the Taiwan issue. The editorial continued, "Every department and sector at every level in both countries must fully implement the agreements reached by the leaders," urging both sides to "focus on cooperation, exercise restraint in competition, manage differences, and turn the vision of sustained peace into reality."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.