US3 min(s) read
Published 16:28 16 May 2026 GMT
President Donald Trump has claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping described the United States as “a nation in decline” during high-level talks in Beijing this week.
The two leaders met face-to-face for the first time since the war with Iran erupted in February, with discussions covering trade, Taiwan, and global security. But it was Trump’s account of a private exchange with Xi that quickly grabbed attention online, particularly in relation to the United States.
Speaking to Fox News after the meeting, Trump said Xi made the remark while discussing America’s recent political and economic struggles.
“President Xi said something to me yesterday, and he wasn't referring to the last 15 months, and he talked about America's a nation in decline, and I said ‘you're right’,” Trump claimed.
The president later doubled down in a lengthy post on Truth Social, where he blamed former President Joe Biden for what he described as years of damage to the country.
“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 wrote.
He added: “President Xi said America is a nation in decline. And I said, ‘You’re right.’”
Trump then claimed Xi praised his own presidency, saying the Chinese leader supposedly described the past “14 to 15 months” under Trump as “a miracle”.
The Truth Social rant soon spiraled into a familiar list of political grievances, with Trump blaming Biden for “open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!”
Trump arrived in Beijing alongside several major US business leaders and tech executives, including Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Taiwan emerged as one of the most sensitive topics during the summit. China continues to view the self-governed island as part of its territory and has repeatedly warned it could use force if Taiwan formally declared independence.
During the meeting, Xi reportedly raised concerns over worsening tensions between the two global powers.
According to reports, Xi asked Trump “whether the two countries can transcend the Thucydides Trap and forge a new model for relations between major powers.”
The “Thucydides Trap” is a theory in international relations suggesting conflict often becomes more likely when a rising power challenges an established one.
“Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both,” Xi said.
“The two countries should be partners rather than rivals, achieve success together and pursue common prosperity, and chart a correct path for major-country relations in the new era.”
Xi also stressed that “the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations.”
Despite the tense geopolitical backdrop, Trump publicly praised Xi throughout the visit.
“You’re a great leader. Sometimes people don’t like me saying it, but I say it anyway, because it’s true,” Trump told him.
“It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend,” he added, before promising that “the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better
