Donald Trump's movements on the White House red carpet drew attention before he welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping, with footage appearing to show the US president moving from side to side rather than along a straight path.

The moment also appeared to leave first lady Melania Trump beyond the edge of the red carpet, prompting some social media users to claim Trump had pushed her aside. Others disputed that interpretation, suggesting he was simply walking towards a designated marker for the official photographs.

A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) shows Trump walking along the red carpet at the White House as he prepared to welcome Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on Thursday 24 September.

Trump can be seen moving across the carpet before reaching a designated position, prompting journalist Aaron Rupar to draw attention to the footage and caption it: 'Watch Trump walking here — he can't walk in a straight line.'

The clip quickly attracted attention because Melania appeared to move beyond the edge of the red carpet as Trump continued towards his position. However, the footage itself does not establish why Trump moved in that direction or whether he intentionally pushed Melania.

Reactions to the footage were sharply divided. Some users claimed Trump had deliberately or inadvertently nudged Melania off the carpet, while others described his movement as unusual and raised concerns about his health.

'Or he symbolically pushed Melania off the red carpet, lol,' one commented. Another added, 'He's so wonky that he pushed Melania off of the red carpet. 🥴' Several users interpreted Trump's movement as unusual, while others offered a different explanation based on his apparent position on the carpet.

Some social media users speculated about whether the movement could indicate a health problem, but the footage did not establish that interpretation.

Other users pointed out that Trump appeared to be heading towards a particular spot on the carpet, suggesting the movement may have been connected to the positioning required for photographs with Xi.

One user wrote: 'I would normally agree that he can't walk straight, but here I think he's just walking to the marker on the carpet for the pictures when he meets Xi.' Another agreed, telling Rupar that Trump was 'walking to the marker.'

The footage comes amid continuing public discussion about Trump's health and physical condition. In the footage, the 80-year-old president appeared to veer to the side while walking along the red carpet.

Trump's physician said following his May 2026 medical examination that the president was in 'excellent health', while the White House has previously disclosed that he was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.

The latest footage, however, does not by itself establish that Trump was experiencing a medical problem.

The different interpretations largely centre on whether his movement reflected a change in direction or simply his attempt to reach the correct position for the formal welcome. Social media speculation alone does not provide a medical diagnosis.

The moment unfolded during a high-profile state visit, as Trump formally welcomed Xi and Peng to the White House. The ceremony included military pageantry before the two presidents moved on to bilateral discussions.

Xi called for greater US-China cooperation to avoid the 'Thucydides trap' amid tensions involving trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan. Trump said the visit would include discussions on security, technology and AI, with the two countries continuing negotiations over their relationship.