Trump blames Biden for US ‘declining’ after Xi comments on ‘Thucydides trap’
President Trump late Thursday invoked his predecessor to explain Chinese President Xi Jinping’s comments as the two leaders met during a high-stakes visit, blaming former President Biden and his administration for the “decline” of the United States.
“When President Xi very elegantly said that the United States was perhaps a nation in decline, he was referring to Sleepy Joe Biden and the tremendous damage we have suffered during the four years of the Biden Administration, and in that respect he was 100 percent right,” he wrote. Sharing on Truth Social. “Our country has suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgenderism for all, men in women’s sports, DEI, terrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!”
Trump did not point to a specific comment made by Xi. However, the post came after his Chinese counterpart questioned whether the two countries could overcome the “Thucydides trap” in his opening speech of the US-China bilateral meeting; This theory suggests that a war may result if a rising power threatens to displace an established power.
Xi in 2021 in question“The East is rising and West is declining.” The White House did not clarify the quote referenced in Trump’s post in response to The Hill’s request for comment.
The president added on social media that the Chinese leader “did not mention the incredible rise of the United States to the world during the 16 glorious months of the Trump administration,” citing issues such as the military operation in Venezuela and the war with Iran.
Trump’s post concluded: “President Xi actually congratulated me on achieving so much great success in such a short period of time. Two years ago we were essentially a nation in decline.” “I completely agree with President Xi on this! But now the United States is the warmest country anywhere in the world, and I hope our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever!”
Tensions over Taiwan have been an undercurrent during Trump’s state visit to China. During Thursday’s bilateral meeting, Xi told his counterpart that the “entire relationship” between Washington and Beijing would be endangered if the “Taiwan issue” was not handled well, according to China’s foreign ministry.
In a statement made after the meeting, Chinese officials described Taiwan as “the most important issue in China-US relations.” Trump did not specifically respond to reporters’ questions about the issue when he was greeted by Xi on Thursday.
The two leaders will meet again on Friday before Trump returns to the US
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