President Donald Trump expressed outrage on social media over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s hosting of authoritarian leaders at a military parade in Beijing, highlighting escalating tensions in U.S.-China relations. His ‘America First’ policies appear to be backfiring, as they drive U.S. adversaries closer together and undermine American global influence.
Trump’s Truth Social post directly addressed Xi, accusing him of conspiring with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un against the United States. The post came as television footage showed the leaders gathered for a stunning military parade, part of China’s celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Trump ironically noted the sacrifices of Americans in that conflict, while his own foreign policy decisions are contributing to a shift in global power dynamics.
The gathering in Beijing and earlier at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin represents China’s effort to showcase its emerging might and test alternative global systems. Experts argue that Trump’s erratic policies, including tariff coercion and bullying of lesser powers, are playing into China’s hands. For instance, his trade war with China has failed to force Beijing to back down, and instead, China’s control of rare earth metals gives it leverage.
Trump’s relationships with strongmen leaders have not yielded the desired results. His summits with Putin and Kim during his first term were largely unsuccessful, with both leaders escalating their adversarial actions. Recently, Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska did not lead to progress in ending the Ukraine war, and Kim has expanded North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
A significant misstep is the strain with India, a key U.S. partner. Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Indian imports and his handling of India-Pakistan tensions have angered Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pushing India closer to China. At the summits, Modi was seen warmly interacting with Xi and Putin, signaling a potential realignment.
U.S. military leaders downplayed the events, emphasizing that such gatherings are common for messaging purposes. However, the broader implication is that Trump’s policies are accelerating a decline in U.S. influence, with nations hedging their bets by engaging more with China.
Despite Trump’s claims of success and his assertion that the U.S. is respected globally, the reality is that his actions are fostering resentment among allies and empowering adversaries. The need for a coherent strategy to counter China’s rise is more critical than ever, but Trump’s approach may be exacerbating the challenges.
