Members of the Tibetan community and Tibet supporters held demonstrations in Washington, D.C., on September 24, 2026, as Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the United States and met President Donald Trump.
The protests came during Xi Jinping’s high-profile Washington visit, which included meetings with Trump and other U.S. officials. Tibetan protesters used the occasion to draw attention to their concerns over China’s policies in Tibet and to call for greater rights and freedom for Tibetans.
Protesters were seen carrying Tibetan flags and banners and chanting slogans supporting the Tibetan cause. Reports confirmed that demonstrators gathered at several locations in Washington, including areas near the Chinese Embassy, the U.S. Capitol and the White House.
Protest Coincides With Trump-Xi Meeting
The demonstrations took place as Trump and Xi held discussions on several major issues affecting U.S.-China relations.
Trade, technology, artificial intelligence and security were among the issues surrounding the leaders’ meetings. Xi’s visit was also accompanied by heightened public attention because of the long-running disagreements between the United States and China.
For Tibetan activists, the visit offered an opportunity to bring the Tibet issue into the spotlight. Demonstrators wanted their concerns to be visible while Xi was in Washington.
‘Free Tibet’ Chants and Tibetan Flags
Tibetan protesters were seen waving the Tibetan flag and holding placards related to Tibet. Reports from Washington said demonstrators chanted **“Free Tibet”** and criticized China's policies in the region.
Radio Free Asia reported that Tibetan protesters gathered near the Chinese Embassy on September 24. Protesters expressed opposition to Xi Jinping’s presence in Washington and raised concerns about the preservation of Tibetan culture, religion and identity.
The Associated Press also reported that several hundred people participated in demonstrations around Washington during Xi’s visit. Different groups raised concerns about Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
The demonstrations were peaceful public protests and were separate from the official Trump-Xi meetings.
#WATCH | US | The Tibetan community holds anti-China protest in Washington, DC. They raised slogans of 'We want China out of Tibet' as US President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. pic.twitter.com/kKOVRBEy56
— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2026
Wider Protests During Xi’s Visit
The Tibetan demonstration was part of a wider series of protests surrounding Xi Jinping’s Washington visit.
Different activist groups used the occasion to raise concerns about Chinese government policies. Demonstrators focused on a range of issues, including Tibet, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.
At the same time, supporters of Xi Jinping also gathered in Washington. The presence of both groups reflected the sharply different views surrounding the Chinese president’s visit to the United States.
The demonstrations received additional attention because they took place close to major locations connected with Xi’s official schedule.
Earlier Anti-Xi Protest in Washington
There were also protests in Washington in the days before Xi’s main meetings with Trump.
On September 22, 2026, a protester climbed a light pole on Pennsylvania Avenue and placed an anti-Xi banner that included the words **“Free Tibet.”** NBC Washington reported that emergency crews later removed the banner.
This incident was separate from the larger Tibetan demonstrations on September 24 but showed that protests connected to Xi’s visit had begun before his main White House engagements.
When Did the Tibetan Protest Happen?
The main Tibetan community demonstrations described in reports took place on **Thursday, September 24, 2026**, during Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, D.C.
The protests coincided with Trump hosting Xi and with several high-level events connected to the Chinese president’s U.S. visit.
While the exact slogan **“We want China out of Tibet”** has appeared in descriptions of the protest circulating online, reliable reports I checked specifically confirm **“Free Tibet”** chants and Tibetan flags. Therefore, the exact wording of that slogan should be attributed to the footage or social-media post where it appears rather than presented as independently confirmed.
Why the Protest Drew Attention
Xi Jinping’s visit was already attracting international attention because of the importance of U.S.-China relations. The Tibetan demonstrations added another political and human-rights dimension to the visit.
For the Tibetan community, the protests provided a platform to publicly raise concerns about Tibet while Xi was physically present in Washington.
The demonstrations therefore became one of the visible public events surrounding the Trump-Xi meetings, bringing the long-running Tibet issue into focus during a major diplomatic visit.
