White House Staff Told Reporters to Toss Burner Phones,' Other Items in Trash While Leaving China Amid Bugging' Fears

"Nothing from China allowed on the plane, she said. 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 Americans are saying we understand the threat of China, we're going try to play nice try to get something done publicly, but privately we're doing to deal with what is true, Jones said."

"In press pool reports seen by Mediaite, White House staff reportedly asked journalists to return badges and lapel pins used to identify them throughout the trip, saying Chinese officials wanted them back. These went into a bin along with the staff burner phones. Following Jones's observation, co-host Ainsley Earhardt revealed that she had sources on the plane to and unpacked the security measures taken by the delegation and traveling press cohort."

"They had to leave their American phones, turn them off, they did not take them into China, or if they did they left them on the planes, she said. They turned them off, they didn't use them. She continued: All of the Americans were using burner phones they had to destroy and leave them in China. They don't want anything that belongs to the Chinese on that plane because they could be bugg"

American security precautions for the U.S. delegation and press pool traveling with President Donald Trump to China included preventing any Chinese items from being brought onto Air Force One. American staff collected credentials, burner phones, and delegation pins provided by Chinese officials before boarding. Burner phones from White House staff were also gathered and discarded. Journalists were reportedly asked to return badges and lapel pins used for identification during the trip because Chinese officials wanted them back. Americans reportedly left their phones behind, turned them off, and did not use them in China. Americans used burner phones that were destroyed or left in China to reduce the risk of surveillance.

Read at www.mediaite.com