MAGA supporters disappointed with the outcome of Trump’s Chinese visit
Donald Trump’s return from his recent high-stakes trip to China leaves him facing growing anger from parts of his hardcore MAGA base after failing to make major trade or diplomatic breakthroughs in talks with the country’s president Xi Jinping, despite the White House claiming the visit would mark a “historic reset” in relations.
If RadarOnline.com The 79-year-old US president reportedly traveled to Beijing amid mounting economic pressure at home, raising tensions over his conflict with Iran and renewing concerns about Taiwan.
Trump was welcomed with a lavish ceremony in Zhongnanhai – the secretive leadership complex in central Beijing – but emerged from the summit without any firm commitments on rare earth minerals, the Middle East or the massive aircraft deal that his aides had heavily promoted beforehand.
Chinese officials also stopped short of publicly endorsing Trump’s stance on Middle East security or reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
A source close to several conservative media figures said the frustration within Trump’s political movement “runs much deeper than supporters wanted to admit.”
The Washington insider added: “Many people came on this trip expecting Trump to dominate Xi and walk away with huge victories. Instead, they saw a highly controlled visit with China giving away almost nothing. There is disappointment, but many MAGA influencers don’t want to say that publicly because they have spent years portraying Trump as unbeatable on the world stage.”
Another Republican strategist familiar with the reactions among Trump allies added: “The expectation was that this would look like a major power grab. Instead, the outlook for Beijing was strong. The base is confused because there is no clear victory to point to. They feel completely let down by Trump and the trip is seen as a total failure.”
Xi appeared to issue a stark warning during meetings with Trump, warning against “clashes and conflicts” over Taiwan and urging the US to avoid the “Thucydides Trap” – a theory that suggests war can break out when a rising power challenges a declining one.
Trump later tried to downplay the comment about Truth Social, insisting that Xi’s apparent reference to America’s decline was linked to former President Joe Biden rather than the US under his leadership.
“When President Xi elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps a country in decline, he was referring to the enormous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe,” Trump claimed.
The summit also exposed growing discomfort among some of Trump’s closest media supporters.
Sean Hannity, who accompanied the president to Beijing, pressed Trump in an interview on whether Xi had actually agreed that Iran could not obtain nuclear weapons.
Trump responded: “He won’t overreact. He’s a pretty cool guy. He won’t say this is a good point.”
Right-wing YouTuber Benny Johnson had initially praised the trip online, writing: “Trump wins BIG today. The trip to China is going better than anyone could have imagined.”
But even he later took a more cautious tone, saying Trump only “thinks” Xi will help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Back in Washington, Trump also faces deteriorating economic data, with inflation rising to 3.8% and fuel prices topping $4.50 per gallon.
A recent CNN poll found that 70% disapproved of his handling of the economy, while only 30% approved of it.
Questions have also surfaced again about the presence of Trump’s 42-year-old son Eric Trump during the visit to China.
The Trump Organization insisted he traveled in a “personal capacity,” despite Trump previously attacking Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China during the 2024 election campaign.
Trump also softened several past anti-China positions during the trip, including criticism of Chinese land purchases in the US and the number of Chinese students attending American universities.
“I honestly think it’s a good thing for people to come from other countries and learn about our culture,” Trump said.
The president later seemed to focus on the ceremonial elements of the visit rather than the diplomatic results, posting on Truth Social from Air Force One: “China has a ballroom, and so should the US!”
One political commentator mocked Trump’s visit to China, saying he was stunned by the pomp and pageantry, similar to that Trump imposed on King Charles during his recent visit to the US.
They wrote in a British newspaper: ‘Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to have studied King Charles’ royal playbook in his dealings with Donald Trump.
‘Step one: dazzle the American president with splendor and a ‘rare’ visit to a special place.
“In the case of Britain, it was Windsor Castle. In China, it was Zhongnanhai – the secretive abode of the Chinese leadership in centuries-old imperial gardens. Step two: Follow the king’s lead in Washington last month. Shake off the Great Narcissist with warm words about the friendship between their two great nations before showering him with such a subtle – but profound – message that Trump is either forced to pretend not to have heard, or has genuinely failed to deliver. to understand its scope.’
They added: “Trump’s usual Maga cheerleaders were so perplexed by the China summit that they largely ignored it.”
