A physical standoff erupted Thursday between U.S. Secret Service agents and Chinese security officials at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven as American press pool personnel faced a nearly 30-minute delay entering the historic compound. The dispute centered on Chinese authorities refusing to permit an armed Secret Service agent—part of the White House press pool—to enter the venue with his weapon, according to multiple reporters present at President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Fox News senior correspondent Peter Doocy described the clash during live broadcasts, noting it was part of a series of tense encounters between U.S. and Chinese security personnel at backdoors of scheduled events. Doocy reported one incident involved “very physical” confrontations where Secret Service officers were prevented from retaining their weapons as part of protective details. He stated the issue was resolved without altering the day’s schedule, though specific terms of compromise remained undisclosed publicly.

AFP correspondent Danny Kemp confirmed the timeline: Press pool entry was delayed nearly half an hour after Chinese security officials refused to allow the armed agent through. A temporary resolution followed, but additional delays later occurred as Chinese authorities reportedly attempted multiple times to obstruct U.S. staff and reporters from joining President Trump’s motorcade during his departure.

The incident reflects broader tensions during Trump’s China visit, with reports indicating repeated access disputes between U.S. and Chinese security teams over the president’s movements. A separate 2017 incident involving a White House aide carrying the nuclear football also surfaced in Fox News’ accounts of similar conflicts. The Temple of Heaven confrontation underscored a pattern of friction where Chinese officials tested boundaries around the president’s security bubble during high-profile diplomatic engagements.