Donald Trump built a US$5 million White House helipad. Don’t expe

Xi Jinping is not expected to take a helicopter ride from Donald Trump’s new US$5 million White House helipad during his state visit to the US this week, because Chinese protocol discourages its leaders from using helicopters.

Trump’s latest Washington showcase

US President Donald Trump has been eager to show the helipad to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, describing it as part of his latest effort to stamp his image on Washington.

The helipad is also presented as part of Trump’s attempt to answer Xi’s splendour-filled hosting four months ago in Beijing and to show the Chinese that Americans can build infrastructure too.

Xi may appear impressed and may compliment Trump on the building project, but the source says not to count on him actually trying it out with a chopper ride during his first state visit to the US in 11 years.

Why Xi may avoid the ride

Yun Sun, senior fellow with the Stimson Centre, said Xi was likely to perform admiration without using the helipad.

“I’m sure Xi will appear impressed, like, oh, this is really remarkable. I’m never getting on,” Yun Sun said.

Sun said Chinese security protocol was unlikely to allow either a helicopter take-off or landing, or for Xi Jinping to take a ride.

“I don’t think the Chinese security protocol will allow for a helicopter take-off or landing or for Xi Jinping to take a ride,” Sun said.

The concern, as Sun put it, is blunt: “They know how dangerous that thing is. It’s a flying coffin.”

Source: South China Morning Post