--- title: "AP photographer captures Trump and Xi at National Archives" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ap-photographer-captures-trump-and-xi-at-national-archives" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ap-photographer-captures-trump-and-xi-at-national-archives" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ap-photographer-captures-trump-and-xi-at-national-archives.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ap-photographer-captures-trump-and-xi-at-national-archives" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-05T19:05:31.783Z" source_reported: "2026-10-05T18:13:14.000Z" updated: "2026-10-05T20:03:17.788Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-05T20:03:17.768058+00:00" --- # AP photographer captures Trump and Xi at National Archives *An Associated Press photographer detailed the moments leading up to a photo of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the National Archives.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the AP, and two independent outlets published the full report. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates fact from comment and provides specific details about the event. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. The language is measured and proportionate, with a headline that accurately reflects the content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - AP photographer Julia Demaree Nikhinson took a photo of Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Xi Jinping, and Peng Liyuan at the National Archives Museum. - The photograph was taken on 29 July 2026, the last day of Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington. - The subjects were viewing the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights when the photo was captured. - Nikhinson used a 70-200mm lens on a Sony Alpha 1 camera and transmitted images live to her editor, Paula Munoz. Associated Press photographer Julia Demaree Nikhinson described the circumstances surrounding a photograph she took of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, accompanied by their wives Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan, at the National Archives Museum. The image was captured on 29 July 2026, the final day of Xi's state visit to Washington. The group was viewing the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights at the time. Nikhinson, who has been an AP staff photographer for two and a half years and is based in Washington, detailed the process in a piece published by The Washington Post. She explained that hours of preparation led to approximately 11 minutes of photography. Nikhinson positioned herself on a riser across from the museum at 6:30 a.m. The motorcades of Trump and Xi arrived at 11:49 a.m. The leaders and their wives exited their vehicles at 11:50 a.m., and Nikhinson took the photograph at 11:51 a.m. They entered the museum at 11:55 a.m. and emerged at 12:03 p.m., with their motorcades departing by 12:08 p.m. For the photograph, Nikhinson used a 70-200mm lens on a Sony Alpha 1 camera. She transmitted the images live to her editor, Paula Munoz, resulting in the photo appearing on the AP wire shortly after. Nikhinson stated the photo works due to the red carpet on the museum steps and the interaction between the couples, with the Trumps appearing to adjust themselves while Xi and Peng watched. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention the specific time the leaders entered and exited the museum, details provided in the full report by Washington Top News and The Independent (US). ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 42% (5) - Centre: 50% (6) - Right: 8% (1) 0 of 12 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-05T20:03:17.768058+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-05T20:15:12.226Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports from The Independent (US), The Seattle Times, The Independent (UK), and Beckley Register-Herald all published digests of the AP photographer's account. These digests focused on the photographer's description of the event, including the timing, the equipment used, and her explanation of why the photo was effective. The Independent (US) and The Independent (UK) used the same headline as other outlets, highlighting the photographer's framing of the shot. ### Centre - The centre-rated outlets led on the AP photographer Julia Demaree Nikhinson and her account of taking a photograph of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the National Archives. The Washington Top News report included Nikhinson’s explanation of why she took the photo and how she made it. - These reports detailed the 11 minutes of photography that followed hours of preparation. They noted the arrival of the motorcades at 11:49 a.m. and the photo being taken at 11:51 a.m. The leaders entered the museum at 11:55 a.m. and left at 12:03 p.m. - The Washington Top News report stated the photo worked because of the red carpet and the interaction between the couples. It described the Trumps as primping themselves while Xi and Peng watched. ### Right - The right-rated report from MY Northwest published a digest of the AP photographer's account. This digest included the photographer's explanation of why she shot the photo and the timing of the event, noting that it occurred on the last day of Xi Jinping's state visit. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 6 - veryHigh: 5 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/11196219/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xis-red-carpet-shot.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/dc/2026/10/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xis-red-carpet-shot) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot – WTOP News - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xis-red-carpet-shot) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/xi-jinping-donald-trump-peng-liyuan-washington-melania-trump-b3061742.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/xi-jinping-donald-trump-peng-liyuan-washington-melania-trump-b3061742.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [Beckley Register-Herald](https://register-herald.com/region/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xi-s-red/article_4777e999-51e5-5135-a997-3c9845201063.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [The Daily Advance](https://dailyadvance.com/news/national/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xi-s-red/article_bff694de-d8cb-5a63-9b75-e8082c412b92.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [union-bulletin.com](https://union-bulletin.com/news/national/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xi-s-red/article_5aacbf19-fc68-526f-8c65-d964bf35f763.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [Enid News & Eagle](https://enidnews.com/region/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xi-s-red/article_4bda6509-2a73-5522-8233-f527be9883d0.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [The Herald Journal](https://hjnews.com/nation/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xi-s-red/article_a0fa1b56-c5c9-5ef0-bf0a-7b099933d28e.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [Hometown News LP](https://hngnews.com/nation_world/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xi-s-red/article_0f41ae9d-a50c-5c1a-b59a-53e90e581c61.html) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot - [MY Northwest](https://mynorthwest.com/national/11-minutes-on-the-steps-how-an-ap-photographer-framed-trump-and-xis-red-carpet-shot/4283288) — 11 minutes on the steps: How an AP photographer framed Trump and Xi’s red-carpet shot ## Questions **Who took the photo of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the National Archives?** The photograph was taken by Julia Demaree Nikhinson, a staff photographer for The Associated Press. She has been with the AP for two and a half years and is based in Washington. **When was the photo of Trump and Xi taken?** The photo was taken on 29 July 2026, which was the last day of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington. The specific moment captured was at 11:51 a.m. **What were Donald Trump and Xi Jinping doing when the photo was taken?** They were viewing the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights at the National Archives Museum. The photographer described them pausing for a photo opportunity on the museum steps. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/ap-photographer-captures-trump-and-xi-at-national-archives. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "AP photographer captures Trump and Xi at National Archives", https://mediabias.news/politics/ap-photographer-captures-trump-and-xi-at-national-archives