Trump used to slam China. Here’s why he’s now rolling out the red carpet for Xi

President Donald Trump's views on China have significantly shifted since he first ran for office a decade ago. When Trump first entered politics, he criticized China as a threat to the U.S. economy, accusing it of causing factory closures and diminishing the middle class. However, Trump's stance towards China has transformed in recent years.

In recent months, Trump has expressed warm sentiments about Chinese President Xi Jinping, describing Xi as a "great gentleman" and highlighting a "very good trading relationship" between the two leaders. This transformation in Trump's approach can be attributed to China's growing dominance in manufacturing and emerging technologies, which pose risks to the economies of several Western nations, including the U.S., Germany, Italy, France, South Korea, and Japan.

Despite using tariffs to confront China, Trump found these measures ineffective in changing China's behavior. Instead, Trump has opted for hospitality, traveling to Beijing in May and potentially meeting with Xi multiple times this year. Trump has also focused on bolstering the U.S. economy and national security alliances, which could serve as a counterbalance to China's growing influence.