U.S. President Donald Trump, who is visiting China, said on the 15th (local time) that he hopes U.S.-China relations will become stronger and better than ever.
Trump said in a statement posted on the social media platform Truth Social that the United States is now the most watched country in the world, listing accomplishments in detail. He said there are so many things that are hard to list one by one, including by far the most powerful military on the planet, a return to being an economic powerhouse that other countries are investing $18 trillion into, the best job market in history, and an end to DEI destroying the nation. He added that, in fact, Xi congratulated him on the many tremendous successes achieved in such a short period.
Quoting remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump sharply criticized the previous Biden administration. He wrote that Xi's referring to the United States as perhaps a declining nation was a reference to the enormous damage the United States suffered over four years under "Sleepy" Joe Biden and the Biden administration, and that on that point he was 100% right. He added that our country has suffered immeasurable pain from open borders, high taxes, transgender for all, men participating in women's sports, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), terrible trade transactions, and rampant crime.
By contrast, he offered a completely different assessment of the 16 months since his own inauguration. Trump said Xi was not referring to the remarkable rise the United States showed the world during the Trump administration, which includes a stock market and retirement funds at a record high, military victory and a thriving relationship in Venezuela, and the military decimation of Iran.
Trump went on to say that two years ago the United States was in fact a declining nation, and he fully agrees with Xi on that, but that now the United States is the hottest country anywhere in the world, and he hopes relations with China will become stronger and better than ever.
It was not confirmed whether Xi actually likened the United States to a declining nation or whether the remark was made directly during this summit. Trump also did not specify in the statement the exact circumstances under which the remark of agreeing with Xi was made.