US now ‘hottest nation in the world’: Trump flips Xi’s ‘declining nation’ remark into Biden attack

US President Donald Trump on Friday pushed back against suggestions that Chinese President Xi Jinping sees America as a declining power, claiming the Chinese leader was referring instead to the years under former President Joe Biden.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social during his ongoing China visit, Trump said Xi’s assessment was “100 per cent correct” only in the context of what he described as the “damage” caused by the Biden administration.

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The remarks come at a politically sensitive moment as Trump and Xi attempt to stabilise ties between the world’s two largest economies amid tensions over trade, Taiwan, Iran and global supply chains. Beijing has repeatedly framed the US as a power in long-term decline, pointing to political divisions, economic uncertainty and social unrest in America.

“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,” Trump wrote.

“Our Country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!” he added.

Trump, however, insisted that Xi’s remarks did not apply to what he called the “incredible rise” of the United States during his current presidency. He pointed to stock market gains, military strength, investment inflows and employment figures as evidence that America had regained global momentum.

The US President also claimed Xi had congratulated him on his administration’s achievements during their meetings in Beijing.

“Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline. On that, I fully agree with President Xi!” Trump said. “But now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world.”

Xi’s ‘West declining’ line resurfaces during Beijing summit

Xi has for years promoted the idea that “the East is rising and the West is declining”, a phrase widely interpreted by Chinese officials and state media as a reference to the United States.

While it remains unclear whether Xi used similar wording during this week’s closed-door talks with Trump in Beijing, the issue resurfaced after reports around the summit highlighted China’s long-standing belief that America’s global influence is weakening.

At a state banquet earlier this week, Xi struck a notably warmer tone towards Trump, saying China’s “great rejuvenation” and America’s “Make America Great Again” vision could coexist. He also described US-China ties as the world’s most important bilateral relationship and warned both countries against confrontation.

Trump, for his part, repeatedly praised Xi during the visit, calling him a “great leader” and saying it was an “honour” to be his friend.

Trump signals optimism on future US-China ties

Despite sharp rhetoric against Biden, Trump ended his post with a conciliatory message towards Beijing, saying he hoped ties between the two countries would become “stronger and better than ever before”.

The Beijing summit has unfolded against the backdrop of fragile trade negotiations, tensions over Taiwan and continuing instability in West Asia. Xi reportedly warned Trump during their talks that mishandling Taiwan could push bilateral relations into a “dangerous place”.

Trump has nevertheless sought to present the trip as a diplomatic success, repeatedly highlighting his personal rapport with Xi and portraying the meetings as a turning point for US-China relations.