How weird - most of the cabinet is in China. Why?

[DURHAM D]

Is Melanoma there?

Edit - Hogshit should not be there.

[rzemanfl]

1. 25th Amendment

is my guess. TSF doesn’t trust them out of his sight.

[Polly Hennessey]

2. Wait, our government is vacationing in China??

I’m confused? Isn’t there a war going on? I seem to remember the word Iran somewhere in the mix. 🤷🏼

[stopdiggin]

3. a (rather desperate) attempt to flatter our hosts.

alla' Donnie's 'cards' (as he likes to bluster about) is pretty much spent ...

And the world (and not least the Chinese government) know it.
Ancillary - it might well be that the administration recognizes that Donnie is in no condition to 'negotiate' anything as intricate as a sandwich swap in a school lunchroom ... So - better bring along a bit of 'help'.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Amishman]

10. It's more complicated than that. he has cards to play, but they would mean losing badly on other goals

It's all about oil and codependency.

Our economies are linked. China's historical growth engine has been internal infrastructure and construction, and exports. The former is at a minimum badly suppressed (if not collapsed). So exports is what they have left, and we're their number one customer. At the the same time, we're heavily dependent on imports from China of both certain raw materials as well as finished goods. As strained as relations are, neither side can cut the cord.

At the same time, we've indirectly attacked their economy. In 2025, China imported 2 million barrels per day combined from Venezuela and Iran. China imports 11 million barrels per day total. Not only did we attack two of their biggest suppliers - suppliers that were selling to China at a discount due to sanctions, but we drove up the oil market overall in the process.

China's is incredibly pissed at Trump, and I haven't even mentioned the tariff debacle yet.

I would argue that China is the one without meaningful cards to play. They can't cut off trade with us easily, as exports are their economic lifeline right now. The one major card they have - overtly and significantly aiding Iran - they dare not play as they are dependent on the Saudis, UAE, Kuwait, and Oman for 3 million barrels per day combined. All four are firmly opposed to the current Iranian regime. (Oman is usually more neutral, but is currently firmly against Iranian demands to control the strait).

Trump has a few cards to play, such as loosening the blockade on Iranian oil, but can't play it without losing face. Same for trade policies - he can't crank down on trade with China without risking further degradation of a US economy already straining under high oil prices.

[bottomofthehill]

4. Not even close to most

There may be 4 of 21. It may only be 3

[stopdiggin]

5. thanks. puts it in a relatively different light .... (in fact rather negates ... )

I (apparently) need to learn to not take things at face value.

[Marie Marie]

6. Be willing to bet that Eric and the Tech Bros are there to shmooze and make deals to

profit off of something. It's always about the money. But then that post I saw earlier made me think: That Trump can no longer travel alone and that family seems to have to accompany him in case his physical or mental health nose dives.

[IcyPeas]

7. Eric is into AI now. His new toy.

[vapor2]

8. Yes, the big wigs are there to make deals with China, you are correct

[fierywoman]

9. Mel didn't make the trip.