Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in the United States. His host, Donald Trump, decides that a simple welcome is not enough — American military power deserves a little introduction of its own. Two massive B-1 bombers roar overhead. The stage is perfect: red carpet, soldiers, flags and the deafening thunder of jet engines.
Then biology takes over.
As the bombers approach, Trump visibly flinches, grimaces and ducks his head. Xi, standing beside him, calmly looks up at the sky — as if bombers fly over his backyard every morning.
Scientifically, Trump’s reaction is quite ordinary. A sudden loud noise can trigger the startle reflex, an involuntary defensive response of the nervous system. It does not necessarily mean fear.
But social media has little patience for neurobiology.
Within seconds, the symbolism of the scene changes. America appears to be saying to China, “Look at our military power,” while the internet sees something rather different: the host startled by his own bombers and the Chinese leader calmly watching them pass.
Sometimes it takes a multimillion-dollar bomber to stage a display of power.
And just one reflex to turn the whole message upside down. 😄
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