"That's Really Something"... Musk Snaps '360-Degree Photos' Like a Tourist, Rubio Gives Thumbs-Up to Ceiling [US-China Summit]

Musk Takes 'Commemorative Photos', Rubio Marvels at the Ceiling
Last-Minute Addition Jensen Huang: "Xi and Trump Were Impressive"

During U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit to China—his first in nine years—a large delegation of senior administration officials and global business leaders accompanied him. Unexpected moments captured at the event have gone viral online.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, takes a certification photo while spinning 360 degrees in place. X capture.

At the official welcoming ceremony hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14, the actions of Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, drew particular attention.

On this day, the American and Chinese delegations lined up on the steps of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before the arrival of the two leaders for the welcoming ceremony. Given that this was the first meeting between the two countries' leaders in six months amid global geopolitical turmoil, the atmosphere was weighty and serious. In the midst of this, CEO Musk took out his smartphone and spun 360 degrees in place, taking certification photos. At times, he was also seen glancing around or smiling, as captured by press cameras.

Online, people commented that "he looks like a tourist at a state event" and that "it’s typical Musk behavior." Musk himself reacted with emojis when a related video was shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio attending the U.S.-China summit. X capture.

U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, who as a senator in 2020 was sanctioned by China for his hardline remarks on China, also attracted attention. Rubio is known as one of the most prominent China hawks in the U.S., and Chinese sanctions usually include travel bans, so some speculated that it would be difficult for him to visit China at all.

However, after Rubio assumed the position of Secretary of State, China began using a different Chinese character spelling for his name. Some interpreted this as the Chinese government's way of creating a workaround to bypass the sanctions, and in fact, the altered spelling was used on the nameplates at the summit, drawing further attention.

Footage of Secretary Rubio touring the interior of the Great Hall of the People also became popular on social media. According to Singapore's Chinese-language media outlet Lianhe Zaobao, he was seen pointing at and looking up at the ceiling or giving a thumbs-up, appearing impressed by Chinese architecture during the summit attended by President Trump and President Xi.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, who was not initially on the list of visitors to China but joined the delegation at the last minute during a stopover for Air Force One refueling in Alaska, also drew the attention of the press.

This visit included leaders from global companies such as Apple and BlackRock, but the participation of Nvidia's CEO—given ongoing U.S. export restrictions to China—led to speculation that related issues might become a key agenda item at the summit.

According to Reuters, CEO Huang told reporters at the Great Hall of the People that "the talks went well" and that "President Xi and President Trump were both impressive."

Meanwhile, on Chinese social media, a scene in which a magpie flew by as President Trump exited his vehicle to attend the welcoming ceremony also attracted attention. In China, magpies are considered auspicious birds symbolizing welcome guests or good news.

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