US orders travelers on Air Force One to throw away gifts, pins, and burner phones after China trip

U.S. officials and reporters traveling on Air Force One were ordered to surrender and discard all gifts, credential badges, and burner phones collected during President Trump's high-level summit in Beijing. The directive, implemented immediately before boarding the return flight, saw travelers tossing items into a bin at the bottom of the plane's stairs. The move is believed to be a precautionary measure against sophisticated Chinese espionage and surveillance capabilities.

While the two-day talks between Trump and President Xi Jinping were described as cordial, the security order underscores the deep-seated mistrust and ongoing intelligence war between the two superpowers. Burner phones and electronic gifts are frequently targeted by foreign intelligence services for bugging or malware insertion. By enforcing a 'nothing from China' rule on the presidential aircraft, the administration is prioritizing operational security even as it pursues a 'business-first' diplomatic relationship with Beijing.