Trump Claims Xi's Remarks on US Decline Targeted Biden's Policies

President Donald Trump recast Chinese President Xi Jinping's reported comment on the West during high-stakes US-China meetings in Beijing as an attack on former President Joe Biden on Thursday.

"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 on Truth Social ahead of the second day of talks between the US and China.

The US delegation received a formal welcome at an opening ceremony Wednesday night. During opening remarks, Xi raised the Thucydides Trap, questioning if China and the United States could avoid the historical pattern of conflict between a rising power and an established one.

The comment aligned with Beijing's view of a changing global power balance, though it remains unclear if Xi directly labeled the US or the West a declining nation.

"President Xi was not referring to the incredible rise that the United States has displayed to the world during the 16 spectacular months of the Trump Administration, which includes all-time high stock markets and 401Ks, military victory and thriving relationship in Venezuela, the military decimation of Iran (to be continued!)," Trump added in his post.

"The United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world, and hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!" Trump continued.

Trump said the United States suffered immeasurably under Biden policies including open borders, increased taxes, DEI, "transgender for everybody," and sanctuary city ordinances. He agreed the nation was in decline two years ago.

Fox News Digital contacted China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the White House for comment.

A White House spokesperson pointed Fox News Digital to Trump's Truth Social post. A Chinese Embassy spokesperson stated that "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand."

The Chinese embassy spokesperson offered no further context on Xi's reported comments.

Xi's Thucydides Trap reference did not directly state the US or West is declining. It invoked a geopolitical theory on conflict risks when a rising power challenges an established one. The remark came as Xi raised the prospect of a US-China clash over Taiwan. The phrase appears in US-China policy discussions to describe fears of collision between China's rise and Washington.

The spokesperson's full statement to Fox News Digital said: "On a welcoming banquet for President Trump, President Xi pointed out that this year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. The over 1.4 billion people of China, drawing on the rich heritage of our over-5,000-year civilization, are advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development. This year is also the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The over 300 million American people are reinvigorating the spirit of patriotism, innovation and enterprise, and ushering in a new journey for the development of the United States."

"The peoples of China and the United States are both great peoples. Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand. We can help each other succeed and advance the well-being of the whole world. President Xi and President Trump also agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, and bring more peace, prosperity and progress to the world."

Former President Biden knew Xi from their vice presidential days.

As president, Biden's ties with Xi involved strategic rivalry. The leaders met in Bali in 2022 and California in 2023 as Washington and Beijing sought to steady relations amid Taiwan disputes, a spy balloon over the US, fentanyl and other issues.

Fox News Digital contacted Biden's representatives for comment but received no response before publication.