As “The Star-Spangled Banner” played during Xi Jinping’s White House welcome ceremony Thursday, Melania Trump, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio all placed their hands over their hearts, following the standard protocol for civilians, while Trump opted for a military-style salute instead.
The ceremony itself carried plenty of formality. Both the American and Chinese national anthems played as part of the official welcome, complete with military honors laid out for Xi’s arrival. Trump’s salute came during the American portion, standing out against everyone else on the platform doing the opposite.
🚨AWKWARD: Trump improperly SALUTES the flag while everyone around him places their hands over their hearts as provided under 36 U.S.C. §301.
Trump is a 5 time military dodger, not a veteran and acts like a wannabe dictator. His brain is fried. pic.twitter.com/Y2FjeEbLN2
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) September 24, 2026
Federal law is fairly specific about who’s supposed to do what during the anthem.
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Under 36 U.S. Code § 301, “individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note.” The same code extends that option to veterans, noting “members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform.” Trump, a civilian with no military service record, doesn’t fall into either category.
This wasn’t a one-time slip. Trump saluted during the anthem at Game 3 of the NBA Finals back in June, and drew boos at Yankee Stadium doing the same thing the previous September. At the NBA Finals appearance specifically, he skipped the salute altogether for a stretch, standing with his hands at his sides while his own granddaughter, Kai Trump, got the gesture right beside him.
The salute wasn’t the only anthem-adjacent detail of Xi’s visit, either. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew over the ceremony while both leaders stood on the red carpet during the anthem, part of the broader military pageantry built around the welcome.
#WATCH | U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer supersonic bombers flew overhead as U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews
(Video Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/pgMzRiLH9y
— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2026
Trump’s history with the anthem carries some added context worth mentioning. He avoided being drafted five times during the Vietnam War, four education deferments and one medical deferment tied to a claimed bone spur diagnosis in 1968.
The salute happened just minutes before Trump opened his own remarks to Xi’s delegation. “President Xi, Madame Peng, and the members of the Chinese delegation, I am delighted to welcome you to the beautiful White House,” he said, kicking off a ceremony that also included a gift exchange, a Silent Drill Platoon review, and a full military flyover.
Xi, in his own remarks, thanked Trump for what he called the “warm hospitality” extended to him and his wife, adding that he hoped the visit would “carry on our friendship, expand cooperation, and promote the well-being of both our peoples.”
Featured image via X screengrab
