President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social to clarify that President Xi Jinping‘s comments about the United States being a declining nation were actually directed at the damage caused during Joe Biden‘s time in office. This came after reports suggested that Chinese leadership believes the US is currently in decline.
Trump arrived in China on Wednesday and immediately met with Xi. During their first official meeting, Trump told the Chinese leader, “It’s an honor to be your friend.” The diplomatic talks continued on Thursday, and Trump later told Fox News host Sean Hannity that Xi expressed interest in helping the US and Iran secure a peace deal involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Mediaite.
In his Truth Social post, Trump framed Xi’s remarks as a criticism of the previous administration rather than a comment on the current state of America. He wrote, “When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct.”
Trump is using Xi’s remarks to draw a sharp contrast between Biden’s record and his own
Trump also claimed the country suffered under Biden due to open borders, high taxes, and other policies. He then contrasted Biden’s time in office with his own recent record. He pointed to what he called an incredible rise during the last 16 months of his administration, highlighting record-breaking stock markets, 401K growth, and what he described as a thriving relationship in Venezuela.
Notably, Elon Musk also joined Trump on his trip to China without informing a federal judge who was waiting to recall him to the witness stand. Trump also mentioned the military operation against Iran, calling it something to be continued, and said the US is currently the strongest military power on earth with record investments from other nations.
Trump also claimed that Xi personally congratulated him on these achievements during their meetings. He stated, “In fact, President Xi congratulated me on so many tremendous successes in such a short period of time.” According to Trump, the nation was in decline two years ago but is now the hottest nation in the world. He expressed hope that the relationship between the US and China would become stronger than ever.
These comments come amid growing attention to how Chinese leadership views the United States. Chinese nationalists and commentators increasingly believe the current state of the US supports Xi’s worldview about the rise of the East and the decline of the West. Data compiled by the Brookings Institution found that the use of terms related to American decline in official Chinese sources doubled over the past year.
Trump’s latest comments appear to be his attempt to reshape the narrative around these reports while using the moment to highlight what he sees as his own policy successes since returning to office. The trip has also drawn attention for other reasons, including a recent photo revealing Trump’s unusual hand condition that sparked debate among medical professionals.
Published: May 15, 2026 10:57 am