Donald Trump unleashed a fiery response to Xi Jinping’s assertion that America is a “declining nation,” pointing the finger squarely at Joe Biden as he wrapped up a historic trip to China that yielded no significant breakthroughs.
Trump acknowledged the “tremendous damage” inflicted on the U.S. but insisted that Xi’s criticisms were aimed solely at the Biden administration. “On that score, he was 100% correct,” Trump declared on social media late Thursday. “Our Country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!”
“Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline. On that, I fully agree with President Xi!” he added. “But now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world, and hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!”
Xi welcomed the U.S. delegation with grand ceremony but hinted at the delicate balance of avoiding confrontation between rising and established powers. “Can China and the United States transcend the so-called ‘Thucydides Trap’ and forge a new paradigm for major-power relations?” he questioned during his opening remarks, referencing the ancient rivalry between Sparta and an ascending Athens.
Previously, Xi had stated that “the East is rising and the West is declining,” positioning the U.S. as “the biggest source of chaos in the present-day world” shortly after Biden took office.
During Trump’s visit—the first by a U.S. president in nearly a decade—he cautioned Washington against missteps regarding Taiwan, warning that such errors could escalate tensions between the two superpowers.
Despite two days of flattery aimed at his host, Trump left China without any major trade agreements or resolutions to pressing issues. His attempts to secure immediate business wins, like a deal for Boeing jets, failed to impress investors, while Xi emphasized a long-term reset and stable trade ties, highlighting their conflicting priorities.
Trump also departed without a solution to the rare earths supply dilemma that has strained relations since China imposed export controls on these critical minerals following Trump’s tariff actions in April 2025. Notably, Chinese state media didn’t mention this issue at all during the summit.
Additionally, Trump raised concerns about the detention of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, but there was no indication that Beijing had softened its stance. China’s foreign ministry reiterated its position on Lai ahead of the summit, stating it had been made clear multiple times.
Washington had anticipated urging Beijing to leverage its influence over Iran for a deal; however, analysts are skeptical that Xi will pressure Tehran or curtail military support, given Iran’s strategic importance to China as a counterbalance against U.S. interests.
While Xi remained tight-lipped about discussions with Trump regarding Iran, China’s foreign ministry issued a blunt statement expressing frustration over the ongoing conflict. “This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue,” it declared.
