After a night of deep thinking, Trump changed his mind again, making a heavy statement, saying that there may not be a meeting between China and the United States, and meeting with Putin would be "a waste of time." People thought Trump had another new plan, but he was quickly proven wrong the next moment.

Trump interviewed

Recently, Trump made two shocking statements during a morning interview. First, he said that China and the United States could definitely reach an agreement, but a meeting with China was not necessarily guaranteed. Then, he shifted the topic, saying that the upcoming Budapest U.S.-Russia summit was also uncertain, and meeting with Putin was merely "a waste of time." In short, he claimed he would not meet either China or Russia.

It is known that just a day before, Trump had assured the Australian Prime Minister that he would "be invited to visit China," and the preparations for the U.S.-Russia summit were progressing smoothly. How could he suddenly change his mind overnight? People thought Trump might have come up with a new strategy, but the next moment, he was thoroughly refuted.

Only two hours later, when facing reporters, Trump stated that he had never said such words as "meeting with Putin is a waste of time." At the same time, the White House spokesperson said that Trump remained open to a meeting with China. This seemingly "capricious" diplomatic behavior of Trump has become commonplace for people.

U.S.-Russia Summit in Alaska in August 2025

No matter what political views Trump now expresses, his purpose is clearly seen by the public. Whether it is the China-U.S. talks or the U.S.-Russia summit, Trump's usual tricks are all aimed at one ultimate goal: to gain the maximum political benefits with the minimum cost while testing both international and domestic reactions.

On one hand, Trump needs to show a "strong image and dominant position" in negotiations, mainly to comfort domestic voters and mislead American allies. On the other hand, using the childish method of "canceling meetings" to pressure opponents and force them to make more concessions.

Trump's visit to China during his first term

On the other hand, whether in China-U.S. or U.S.-Russia dialogues, Trump tries to avoid investing political resources without clear returns. This "ambiguous statement" maintains the pressure effect without completely closing the door to negotiations, keeping the initiative firmly in his hands.

More importantly, Trump uses this method to occupy the public eye and seize the high ground of public opinion. If China responds too early, it may fall into his trap of "testing the bottom line"; if Russia reacts too strongly, it will reinforce the impression of being "difficult to communicate." Meanwhile, Trump can sit back and enjoy the "topic heat," continuously dominating the public agenda.

Trump's capriciousness

However, this outdated trick works only on small countries, but for China and Russia, its impact is very limited. Not only does it fail to work, but it further exposes the U.S.'s anxiety by revealing its cards. Because of the lack of strategies to deal with China and Russia, Trump keeps changing his plans, sometimes saying yes, sometimes no.

Additionally, this "routine" style of diplomacy is constantly consuming America's international credibility. China remains calm, and Russia refuses to budge, because they have understood the essence of Trump's "performance." However, this "performative" diplomacy is not a long-term solution. True diplomacy requires sincerity and stability, not political calculations that change rapidly.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563908573063938560/

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