Trump promised a “Monumental Event” with Xi Jinping.
Instead, it’s turning into a diplomatic humiliation.
What was once hyped by the White House as a major summit on trade, fentanyl, energy, and the Iran War is now being quietly downsized in real time as Trump arrives in Beijing politically weakened and internationally exposed.
“It’s the shrinking summit,” said Zack Cooper, former Deputy National Security Advisor under George W. Bush. “It’s pretty clear the Trump team is in a very difficult position.”
That’s putting it mildly.
Just days ago, Trump bragged the talks would cover Iran and global energy issues. Now he’s suddenly pretending those topics aren’t even on the table.
“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them,” Trump awkwardly told reporters Tuesday after previously hyping it as a centerpiece of the meeting.
Translation: Xi isn’t giving Trump the summit he wanted.
And why would he?
Trump is heading into Beijing weaker than at any point in his presidency. His disastrous Iran War has cratered his approval ratings, the Epstein scandal continues to consume headlines, and the Supreme Court stripped away one of his biggest negotiation weapons by gutting his tariff powers.
Beijing sees all of it.
“The confidence you see from Beijing… that they are negotiating with the United States as equals, if not the stronger player, is striking,” said former Biden State Department official Henrietta Levin.
Xi knows Trump needs this summit far more than China does.
So instead of a grand bargain, Trump may walk away with little more than staged photos and vague statements while Xi solidifies China’s image as the steadier global power.
Former CIA China analyst Jonathan Czin said expectations for any real breakthrough have collapsed: “Maybe little bargains are possible.”
That’s a long way from the chest-thumping promises Trump made about being “tough on China.”
Because the reality is this:
Trump weakened America’s position himself.
He alienated allies.
Damaged U.S. credibility.
Attacked American science and research.
Destabilized the economy.
And dragged the country into a chaotic Middle East conflict that’s now consuming his presidency.
Xi didn’t have to outmaneuver Trump.
He just had to wait.
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