Chinese reporters trampled a White House aide during the opening day of President Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, it has emerged.

A Secret Service agent was blocked from official events, while American journalists were reportedly barred from joining the presidential motorcade. The chaos was filmed by a director working alongside filmmaker Brett Ratner, who was in China shooting "Rush Hour 4."

The incidents caused tension within the U.S. delegation, with one member overheard describing the situation as a "s---show."

According to the New York Post, U.S. reporters have allegedly been granted restricted access to bathrooms and had their water bottles seized as Chinese officials seek to control coverage of a global news event.

The outlet reported that despite sweltering conditions, the American press was not supplied with any alternative hydration.

The White House aide was knocked to the ground and trampled by what the outlet characterised as an aggressive Chinese press contingent that surged into Trump's morning bilateral meeting with Xi, leaving the aide bruised and distressed.

Later that afternoon at the Temple of Heaven, Chinese officials declined to permit a Secret Service agent accompanying the presidential press pool to enter because the agent was carrying a firearm, the Post reported.

The American delegation and press pool refused to continue without the agent, while Beijing officials insisted the agent hand over the sidearm.

Following a 30-minute standoff and lengthy negotiations, a second Secret Service agent was granted permission to arrange an escort for reporters into the venue, while the first agent remained outside.

The two leaders arrived behind schedule for the temple visit after their bilateral meeting overran.

Trump and Xi posed for photographs, and as their tour continued, the American press was allegedly ushered into a holding room and barred from rejoining the presidential motorcade upon Trump's departure.

As the American press corps repeatedly insisted "we have to go," a White House official warned Chinese personnel that the Trump administration would never extend the same treatment to visiting Chinese media, according to The Post.

With the President already seated in the convoy awaiting the press contingent, a White House aide reportedly declared, "We are going," as American staffers and journalists pushed past officials and made a dash towards the motorcade.