President Donald Trump brought Chinese President Xi Jinping to view the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence in Washington, DC, despite his own feud this week with the independent American free press – the rights of which is established in the First Amendment of the Constitution.
"We're just comparing," Trump told reporters, referring to the Constitution and China's governing documents. "Ours goes 250 years. Which is great, and we're proud of. Theirs goes 6,000 years. So there's a little difference between 6,000 and 250. But we're very proud of our 250."
On the morning of Sept. 25, the leaders began the second day of Xi's state visit with tea at the White House and then made their way down the road to the National
Archives, where the original documents are held. The display of the documents establishing U.S. democracy – and the freedom of the press – to the Chinese communist leader came at a unique moment as Trump's administration has tried to revoke some American news outlets' access to the White House even while Chinese state-controlled media were allowed in.
Unlike the day before, when American broadcast newsrooms did not cover the state visit, Trump and Xi were followed by TV cameras and recorded exchanging friendly remarks, accompanied by their spouses First Lady Melania Trump and Madame Peng Liyuan. Asked what was accomplished during their tea meeting, Trump said it was "a really great meeting" that was "great for the farmers. Great for everybody."
As the duo stood before the Bill of Rights, Trump told reporters at the National Archives that it was "a great building" and said that he and Xi spoke about the war in Iran.
Trump's feud with US media
On the first day of their visit, American broadcast television cameras and reporters did not cover the U.S.-China state visit, as journalists stood in unity with broadcast pool member CNN, which, along with Politico and MS NOW, was not permitted at the White House earlier that week due to a Trump-announced ban on the three outlets. American photographers and print outlet poolers did cover the events.
Shortly after midnight on Sept. 24, a federal judge ordered that access for the news outlets be reestablished, and by mid-day those banned outlets' journalists were able to return to the White House campus. This was happening all while Chinese state-run media were engaged in covering the leaders inside the White House. Trump reportedly joked at one point that the Chinese had the friendliest press corps.
Broadcast reporters and cameras are covering the second day of Trump and Xi's visit because Trump's ban on the specific outlets has been restricted.
On the evening of Sept. 24, the president and first lady hosted Xi at an official state dinner, which included such guests as tech and media leaders like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Paramount owner David Ellison, whose merger with Warner Brothers – which includes CNN – was approved earlier this week amid the press freedom fight.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Against press feud backdrop, Trump shows China's Xi the Constitution
