Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

kentuck

(115,575 posts)
Thu May 14, 2026, 02:45 PM 14 hrs ago

Did Trump and his billionaire friends misread the Chinese people?

Did they believe that China would put capitalism and wealth above all else?

Did they think China would be impressed with the "richest man in the world".

Did they believe that the Chinese people would not see through their charade?

Did they believe that the Chinese leaders were just like them?

Was this their method of attempted bribery?

In my opinion, this trip was a disaster from top to bottom.

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Did Trump and his billionaire friends misread the Chinese people? (Original Post) kentuck 14 hrs ago OP
The level of hubris demonstrated by this administration is absolutely stunning. alwaysinasnit 14 hrs ago #1
He needs to watch a few Asian dramas. Baitball Blogger 14 hrs ago #2
Krasnov too lazy to prepare remarks... LakeVermilion 14 hrs ago #3
He is too stupid to be in that setting with intelligent people. Being ignorant about just GoodRaisin 2 hrs ago #15
Most of the business leaders understand the Chinese Johonny 14 hrs ago #4
"In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, dalton99a 14 hrs ago #5
To clarify.. poverty is something for the country and its rulers to be ashamed of. ananda 12 hrs ago #8
I'm pretty sure the original meaning was living in poverty is shameful in a well governed country Ilikepurple 11 hrs ago #11
This is exactly what Confucius said. ananda 5 hrs ago #14
But Book 8.13 the Analects contains advice to his students rather than an analysis of proper government Ilikepurple 33 min ago #16
Yes, of course they did. mwmisses4289 14 hrs ago #6
Most important is how the Chinese read Trump randr 14 hrs ago #7
"In my opinion, this trip was a disaster from top to bottom." BaronChocula 12 hrs ago #9
OF COURSE THEY DID!!! They are all totally clueless self-obsessed psychopaths. LymphocyteLover 11 hrs ago #10
I don't think they really care. They are devoid of decency or dignity. live love laugh 11 hrs ago #12
Guessing that GREED prompted the sycophant CEOs to go to China vapor2 9 hrs ago #13

Baitball Blogger

(52,704 posts)
2. He needs to watch a few Asian dramas.
Thu May 14, 2026, 02:55 PM
14 hrs ago

The rich classes are never the good guys, and the lesson is always treat everyone with respect or suffer the consequences.

LakeVermilion

(1,637 posts)
3. Krasnov too lazy to prepare remarks...
Thu May 14, 2026, 02:57 PM
14 hrs ago

He tries to "wing it" instead. How can such an undisciplined lug expect to get the respect of other leaders.

Of course, he never reflects so he believes that nothing is wrong; that everything was "perfect."

GoodRaisin

(11,040 posts)
15. He is too stupid to be in that setting with intelligent people. Being ignorant about just
Fri May 15, 2026, 02:49 AM
2 hrs ago

about everything, when it’s his turn to speak all he can think of is that horseshit praise that starts falling out of his mouth. Carnival barking is his specialty. I’m sure Xi loved all the compliments though.

Johonny

(26,563 posts)
4. Most of the business leaders understand the Chinese
Thu May 14, 2026, 02:57 PM
14 hrs ago

But also want access to the Chinese market and are very, very willing to use the moronic lump of mass known as Trump to allow them an air of authority to try to negotiate for better access to that market.

Trump is an idiot that praises Xi and calls him a friend. He doesn't understand much beyond how to fill his diaper.

dalton99a

(95,175 posts)
5. "In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed,
Thu May 14, 2026, 02:59 PM
14 hrs ago

wealth is something to be ashamed of."
- Confucius

ananda

(35,470 posts)
8. To clarify.. poverty is something for the country and its rulers to be ashamed of.
Thu May 14, 2026, 04:25 PM
12 hrs ago

Not for its poor people, that is.

Ilikepurple

(790 posts)
11. I'm pretty sure the original meaning was living in poverty is shameful in a well governed country
Thu May 14, 2026, 05:46 PM
11 hrs ago

Whereas living in wealth is shameful in a poorly governed country. I’m not agreeing with Confucius, but think it makes more sense given his teachings and the structure of the aphorism.

ananda

(35,470 posts)
14. This is exactly what Confucius said.
Thu May 14, 2026, 11:28 PM
5 hrs ago

I was just making sure that everyone understands that
it's the government that is either to blame or take
credit... not the people.

Ilikepurple

(790 posts)
16. But Book 8.13 the Analects contains advice to his students rather than an analysis of proper government
Fri May 15, 2026, 04:48 AM
33 min ago

At least that is how I understood it. I hesitate to be overconfident when speaking about Eastern Philosophy as I’m not close to being an expert.
Confucius has much to say about governance, but here it seems he’s more interested in giving advice about how to interact with good or bad states. I believe he’s advising his students that there’s virtue in engaging with and climbing the ranks of a just state, but to do so to enrich themselves in an unjust state is vice. That is, the shame referred to her resides in the student, not the government. Translating The Analects will always contain a degree of interpretation because of differences in syntax, culture, and available vocabulary.

The following are a few different translations of the relevant passage, but they all seem to be directed at guiding students along the way of the good.

When the Way prevails in the world, he appears; when the Way is lacking, he retires. When the state follows the Way, being poor and lowly is a cause for shame. When the state is without the Way, being rich and eminent is a cause for shame.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

When the dao prevails in the world,
appear; when it does not, hide.
When the dao prevails in a state, to
be poor and of low rank is shameful; when
the dao does not prevail in a state, to be
wealthy and of high rank is shameful.

Robert Eno

The Master said, “Have unshakable trust in [the moral path you pursue]. Love learning. Hold on to the way of the good until you die. Do not enter a state threatened with danger. Do not reside in a state embroiled in conflict. Show yourself when the moral way is evident. Seek reclusion when it is not. When the moral way prevails in a state, being poor and lowly is a cause for shame. When the moral way does not prevail in the world, having wealth and position is a cause for shame.
Annping Chin

mwmisses4289

(4,669 posts)
6. Yes, of course they did.
Thu May 14, 2026, 03:00 PM
14 hrs ago

The idiotic bobbing blocks have convinced themselves that they are the smartest people on the planet (in spite of all the evidence to the contrary) and that everyone in the world should bow down to them.

randr

(12,653 posts)
7. Most important is how the Chinese read Trump
Thu May 14, 2026, 03:10 PM
14 hrs ago

They know how to get every thing they want.

BaronChocula

(4,719 posts)
9. "In my opinion, this trip was a disaster from top to bottom."
Thu May 14, 2026, 04:48 PM
12 hrs ago

Signature maga. They take a ham fist to everything which is fine when you want to destroy everything. But it doesn't work so well when you want to build something.

vapor2

(4,884 posts)
13. Guessing that GREED prompted the sycophant CEOs to go to China
Thu May 14, 2026, 07:36 PM
9 hrs ago

Hope they get zero deals and shame on Tim Cook

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Did Trump and his billion...