US officials and press accompanying President Trump reportedly discarded all Chinese-provided items, including phones and badges, before departing Beijing. This move underscores deep mistrust and stringent cybersecurity fears, with delegation members using only burner phones. The actions occurred despite public cordiality during Trump's visit, highlighting underlying tensions.

While the summit appeared cordial, China remains a key adversary of the United States, given its advanced intelligence and espionage capabilities.

US officials and journalists travelling to China were advised to use phones and laptops that could be wiped or disposed of back home to preserve cybersecurity.