Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, May 15: US President Donald Trump has blamed former president Joe Biden after Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly referred to the United States as a “declining nation” during talks in Beijing.
Trump made the remarks on his social media platform Truth Social while US and Chinese officials continued discussions aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.
The controversy emerged after Xi reportedly referred to the “Thucydides Trap”, a theory commonly used to describe the risk of conflict between an established global power and a rising rival. Although Xi did not directly state that the United States was in decline, Trump interpreted the remarks as criticism of the Biden administration.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Xi’s comments reflected the damage caused during Biden’s tenure.
“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 per cent correct,” Trump wrote.
Trump went on to criticise Biden-era policies on immigration, taxes, diversity programmes and sanctuary cities. He claimed the country had struggled under Biden’s leadership but had improved significantly during his current administration.
“President Xi was not referring to the incredible rise that the United States has displayed to the world during the 16 spectacular months of the Trump Administration,” he added.
Trump further claimed that the US had regained global prominence.
“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!” he stated.
Relations between the United States and China have remained tense under both the Trump and Biden administrations, with disagreements continuing over trade, Taiwan, fentanyl trafficking and security concerns.
Under Biden, both countries attempted to stabilise ties through high-level meetings held in Bali in 2022 and California in 2023 despite continuing disputes, including the controversy surrounding an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon.
Former president Biden has not yet reacted to Trump’s remarks.