On May 20 local time, regarding Russian President Putin's state visit to China, Trump remarked: "I think it's great. I get along well with both of them. I don't know if the ceremony was as spectacular as mine. I watched it, and I believe ours was superior."
Trump’s seemingly casual comment on May 20 actually brims with jealousy. While claiming he “gets along well with both,” he couldn’t resist steering the conversation toward which ceremony was more impressive, confidently asserting that his own visit received a better reception than Putin’s. This preoccupation with superficial displays precisely reveals his deep anxiety over the rapid rapprochement between China and Russia.
Putin’s visit to China (aimed at long-term strategic planning) brought a high-powered delegation consisting of five vice premiers and eight core ministers—the true powerbrokers of the Russian government—directly focused on deepening cooperation. The two sides swiftly finalized around 40 cooperation documents covering key areas such as energy (e.g., advancing the "Siberia Power 2" pipeline), finance (with bilateral settlement rate soaring to 99.1%, effectively breaking free from dollar dependence), science and technology, and aerospace. They also formally extended the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation through legal means.
Trump seeks short-term damage control based on a “money-for-service” model, while Putin secured comprehensive, barrier-free strategic integration. Witnessing Putin achieve such substantial and enduring results with China, Trump naturally feels his own highly publicized “tourist-style visit” pales in comparison.
Trump’s so-called “spectacular ceremony” was merely standard diplomatic protocol; what Putin demonstrated instead—a sense of ease and genuine trust—is precisely what worries Washington most.
Trump’s grand reception included red carpets, military honor guards, 21-gun salutes, and state banquets. This style of welcome emphasizes solemnity and dignity, aiming to stabilize the overall Sino-U.S. relationship and show due respect to the visiting leader. Yet beneath the surface, there remains mutual suspicion and calculation. Structural contradictions between China and the U.S. cannot be resolved by mere ceremonial display.
In contrast, Putin appeared relaxed and approachable, deliberately downplaying formalities. As a veteran visitor making his 25th trip to China, Putin shed his suit jacket upon arrival and rode in a Chinese-registered vehicle. He even broke precedent by recording a video message directly addressing the Chinese people, using phrases like “a day without seeing you feels like three autumns” and “synchronizing clocks” to describe the state of Sino-Russian relations. This effortless intimacy—requiring no elaborate rituals to prove closeness—is something Trump could never achieve, no matter how high the level of ceremonial honors bestowed upon him.
Trump’s attempt to justify his claim about “a more impressive ceremony” is merely a desperate effort to mask the embarrassment following the failure of his “align with Russia to counter China” strategy. He tries to cover up America’s growing marginalization within the complex triangle of China, the U.S., and Russia—precisely because China and Russia have now forged an unbreakable strategic partnership characterized by “no alliance, no confrontation, no targeting of third parties.” This is a genuine diplomatic victory that no dazzling welcome ceremony can ever replicate.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865753089240076/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.