Members of the American delegation accompanying Donald Trump on his visit to China reportedly discarded all items provided by Chinese authorities before departing the country, according to a journalist travelling with the delegation.
American reporter Emily Goodin wrote in a social media post that, prior to boarding Air Force One, US personnel collected and disposed of all materials issued by Chinese officials, including identification cards and temporary “burner” phones.
American staff took everything Chinese officials handed out – credentials, burner phones from WH staff, pins for delegation – collected them before we got on AF1 and threw them in a bin at bottom at stairs.
Nothing from China allowed on the plane. We’re taking off shortly for…— Emily Goodin (@Emilylgoodin) May 15, 2026
According to her account, the items were thrown into a collection box placed beneath the aircraft stairs before departure.
The development comes amid reports that members of the US delegation refrained from carrying personal electronic devices during the visit due to cyber security concerns.
US media reports stated that several officials chose not to bring their personal mobile phones or laptops to China, amid fears that Chinese security systems could potentially monitor or compromise their devices.
The reported precautions reflect longstanding security concerns within Washington regarding electronic surveillance and cyber espionage during official visits to China.
