'Because of you': Rep. McGovern slams Trump after he appears to agree with Xi on America's decline
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) is not mincing his words when singling out Donald Trump as the reason behind America's decline, after the president validated his Chinese counterpart's assertion that the United States was a "nation in decline." Trump claimed that Xi Jinping was referring to America under Joe Biden's presidency, and not his term.
Trump's interpretation comes in the wake of the Chinese President's remarks during the recently concluded state visit to China. Xi invoked the Thucydides Trap and characterized the United States as a declining nation. "The world has come to a new crossroads. Can China and the U.S. overcome the 'Thucydides Trap' and create a new paradigm of major country relations?" he said. McGovern's three-word response, "Because of you," weaponized Donald Trump's own words and pinned the blame for the decline directly on Trump's leadership.
He was not referring to Biden’s America He was referring to his (wrong) perception of America’s decline over many years if not decades.
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) May 15, 2026
You really expect us to believe that Xi thinks the US is the “hottest Nation anywhere in the world”?
Cmon man.
Instead of this silly… https://t.co/WUl8nCFHIP
Trump, in his defense, suggested that Xi was referring to the damage under the Biden administration. "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!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. He argued that Xi was not referring to the incredible rise that the U.S. had displayed during the 16 "spectacular" months under his tenure. He claimed that the U.S. was now "the hottest nation anywhere in the world."
At this difficult moment in American history, we must be honest with ourselves:
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 5, 2026
Our nation, once the envy of the world, is now in profound decline.
For the sake of our children and future generations, we must reverse course. pic.twitter.com/cXCOUk7YR5
"...includes all-time high stock markets and 401K’s, military victory and thriving relationship in Venezuela, the military decimation of Iran (to be continued!) — Strongest military on earth by far, economic powerhouse again, with a record 18 trillion dollars being invested into the United States by others, best U.S. job market in history, with more people working in the United States right now than ever before, ending country destroying DEI," Trump said.
Trump is humiliating the United States on this China trip. He has completely given up and abandoned key issues. Pathetic.
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) May 14, 2026
This nod to American decline caps off a summit performance that critics say projected weakness. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul led the criticism, arguing that Donald Trump’s "effusive praise" for Xi Jinping amounted to one-sided flattery that lacked any reciprocation from Beijing.
McFaul, who served as an ambassador from 2012-2014, called Trump's "asymmetry of praise" unprecedented, reminding that the Chairman of the Communist Party of China is a "dictator" and an "autocrat." Meanwhile, there was little in terms of deliverables from the summit, which spanned discussions on issues from trade to Taiwan.
