“Fox & Friends” experienced an uncomfortable moment on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, when host Brian Kilmeade confused Lara Trump with First Lady Melania Trump while reporting on President Trump’s arrival in Beijing, China. The blunder, which unfolded live as Air Force One landed at Beijing Capital International Airport, swiftly turned into one of the most discussed events of the China visit.
Fox News suspended its regular schedule to air the president’s landing, featuring anchors Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt, and Lawrence Jones seated with Michael Allen, a former aide to George W. Bush. As the 79-year-old president descended the stairs gradually — welcomed by military personnel and a red carpet with people holding Chinese and American flags — the program shifted to the live broadcast.
An On-Air Gaffe Happening Live
“Michael, my apologies for cutting in. We want to tune into this welcome briefly, then we’ll get back to you,” Jones addressed Allen, while music played in the distance mixed with Air Force One’s sound.
Kilmeade then made reference to “the first lady” walking down the stairs to meet the president. Earhardt rapidly sensed something was amiss, quietly mentioning it “might be Lara Trump.” Moments later, she stated, “I believe that’s Lara Trump.” Kilmeade, speaking more softly, said it was “probably significant for her” and that it “should have been the first lady.”
An extended moment of silence ensued. The broadcast audio went blank for over a minute, with only tarmac sounds remaining as videographers tried to secure a better shot. Once the hosts returned, Kilmeade quickly pivoted, describing the crowd’s sounds and mentioning that the president “made a fist pump as he went down.”
Who Actually Deplaned
The individuals exiting Air Force One after the president were not Melania, 56, but Eric, 42, the president’s second son, and his spouse Lara, 43 — a Fox News contributor in her own right. This family tie made the broadcast mistake even more noteworthy. An official from the first lady’s office stated that “First Lady Melania Trump is not traveling this time.”
Mental health professional Dr. Tracy King theorized that the first lady’s selective travel pattern could be an intentional approach — one that “constrains her visibility to public examination, reduces opportunities for her involvement in daily political matters, and ensures her appearances hold greater significance.”
The traveler list resembled an exclusive international business gathering. Accompanying Eric and Lara were Elon Musk, chief of Tesla and SpaceX, Larry Fink from BlackRock, Tim Cook of Apple, Stephen Schwarzman from Blackstone, and filmmaker Brett Ratner. Executives from Goldman Sachs, Boeing, Visa, and Mastercard completed the group.
The traveling delegation proved bigger than initially revealed. Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s president — whose semiconductors are vital to the U.S.-China AI competition — flew on Air Force One with Trump and Musk. Boeing’s representatives were spearheaded by CEO Kelly Ortberg, with airplane purchase discussions continuing despite Chinese retaliatory tariffs on American products. The delegation also featured Jane Fraser of Citigroup and Dina Powell McCormick, who holds the role of Meta’s President and Vice Chair.
Notably Absent: China Authorities
Strikingly missing from the passenger list: individuals with substantial China background. Brett Bruen, a former Obama administration official who oversaw global engagement, voiced objections through X, claiming the group lacked the advisors typically accompanying a president.
“Not a single China expert,” Bruen commented on May 12. “POTUS would normally have at least one NSC/State official to provide briefings. Underlines how utterly unprepared he is for meetings with Xi.”
Trump’s chief spokesperson Steven Cheung was unhappy with the statement, delivering a harsh rebuttal that included name-calling Bruen a “slope-brained, mouth breathing moron” and saying that anyone who previously worked with him should regret it.
The president set off from Washington, D.C. on May 12, with the journey concluding on Friday. He was received at the tarmac by Chinese representatives upon landing, though President Xi Jinping was conspicuously not present.
The president left Beijing on Friday, May 15, following the two-day gathering featuring ceremonial components but producing limited substantive outcomes. Thursday included a private meeting between the two leaders lasting approximately two hours and 15 minutes, along with a concluding Friday engagement at Zhongnanhai — the residence and administrative center of China’s highest officials — with garden visits and dining featuring kung pao chicken, Beijing roast duck, scallops, and dumplings. Trump characterized the experience as “incredible” and promoted “fantastic trade deals,” while Xi called the discussions “historic” and a “landmark.”
Regarding Iran, Trump relayed that Xi communicated China would withhold military supplies from Tehran — which Trump described as “a big statement.” Nevertheless, no significant progress occurred on the Taiwan matter, where Xi cautioned about probable “clashes and even conflicts” without careful management, or concerning imprisoned media figure Jimmy Lai’s potential release.
Bloomberg assessed the result as Trump ending “the summit largely where he began, receiving little help from his self-described ‘friend’ Xi Jinping.” The Atlantic Council was more candid: “It was a big show — with little to show for it.”
Regarding the Fox & Friends set? Kilmeade will likely want to brush up on his Trump family information before the following major event.
