Trump Says He Agrees with Xi's 'U.S. Decline Theory'... Blames Biden

Post on Social Media After Concluding China Visit

"Hoping for Improved U.S.-China Relations"

U.S. President Donald Trump, following his visit to China, claimed that he agrees with what is reportedly referred to by the Chinese side as the "U.S. Decline Theory." However, he attributed the reasons for America's decline to former President Joe Biden.

On May 15 (local time), President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, "Just two years ago, we were a declining nation," and added, "I completely agree with President Xi's remarks on that point." However, he clarified, "What President Xi was referring to was the situation during the Biden administration." In effect, he placed the blame for America's decline on his predecessor.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump greet each other at the welcoming ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the 14th (local time). Photo by EPA, Yonhap News.

President Trump went on to say, "I hope that the relationship between the United States and China becomes stronger and better than ever." However, he did not specify when or in what context President Xi described the U.S. as a "declining nation."

Earlier, on May 12, The New York Times highlighted the atmosphere in China ahead of President Trump's visit, stating, "China now sees Trump’s America not as a rival to catch up with, but as a declining empire." The article noted that when President Trump first visited Beijing in 2017, Chinese authorities invited him to the Forbidden City to showcase China's history and prestige, whereas this time, they highlighted advanced technologies such as robots and drones.

The article also reported a noticeable increase in mentions of "America's downfall" in mainstream political discourse within China. Recently, a think tank under Renmin University published a report titled "Thank Trump." In the report, Chinese scholars predicted that the Trump administration’s tariff policies and pressure on alliances weakened U.S. national power, while bringing strategic independence to China.

Meanwhile, on this day, President Trump concluded his three-day state visit to China. During a tea meeting with President Xi at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, he commented, "This visit was an amazing one," and stated, "We have achieved a fantastic trade agreement, which is great for both countries."

President Trump emphasized that President Xi's China "shares similar views with us on the Iran issue," and added, "I have known President Xi for 11 or 12 years now. We have resolved many issues that others could not, and our relationship is strong."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.