China's President Xi Jinping (L) looks at US President Donald Trump as they attend a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026.
Trump recasts Xi’s ‘declining nation’ remark as critique of Biden
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
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Trump said Xi’s “declining nation” remarks referred to the Biden era, not the current US under his presidency.
President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks describing the United States as a “declining nation” were aimed at the Biden administration, not the current state of the country under Trump’s leadership.
In a post on Truth Social during his visit to China, Trump said Xi was referring to “the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration,” adding that “on that score, he was 100% correct.”
Trump pointed to what he described as problems during Biden’s presidency, including open borders, high taxes, diversity and inclusion initiatives, crime and trade policies that he said weakened the country.
He then contrasted that period with what he called the “incredible rise” of the United States during the first 16 months of his administration.
Trump cited record stock market and 401(k) gains, increased foreign investment, a strong labor market and what he described as renewed military strength. He also referenced a “thriving relationship” with Venezuela and claimed the United States had achieved the “military decimation of Iran,” adding “to be continued!”
The president further said Xi had congratulated him on what he called “tremendous successes in such a short period of time.”
“Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline,” Trump wrote. “But now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world.”
Trump ended the message by expressing hope for stronger ties between Washington and Beijing, saying he hoped the relationship with China would become “stronger and better than ever before.”
