Published on: Sat, 16 May 2026 16:22:00 GMT
Original Story: Maher pans president over Xi summit: ‘China knows what Trump likes’ – The Hill

Trump: China Knows What *I* Like.

Okay, so Bill Maher, bless his perpetually-smug heart, pointed out on his show that China seems to have figured out exactly how to play Donald Trump. Apparently, a little flattery goes a long way. Who knew, right? (Spoiler alert: everyone knew.) But let’s not pretend this is some shocking revelation. The real question is: does this penchant for being buttered up have any real-world implications when it comes to, oh, I don’t know, tariffs and the overall economic relationship between the U.S. and China?

Tariffs: A Love Story (Not Really)

Remember 2018? Ah, those halcyon days of…trade wars! Trump, fresh off his campaign promises to “get tough” on China, slapped tariffs on everything from steel to soybeans. The rationale? China was engaging in unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft, and generally being a global economic bully. And, to be fair, there was (and still is) a kernel of truth to that. But the execution… well, let’s just say it was less “surgical strike” and more “carpet bombing the entire economy, including our own feet.”

The stated goal was to bring China to the negotiating table and force them to play fair. Did it work? Sort of. There were negotiations, and eventually, a Phase One trade deal was signed in January 2020. But the tariffs remained, lingering like a bad smell after a questionable burrito.

The “Art of the Deal” or the Art of the Sizzle?

Trump, of course, touted the Phase One deal as a massive victory. “The biggest deal ever!” he probably yelled at a rally while simultaneously tweeting about it. But economists, those killjoys, pointed out that the deal was largely symbolic and didn’t really address the underlying issues. China agreed to buy more American goods (agricultural products being a key component), but the structural problems – the forced technology transfers, the state-sponsored hacking, the currency manipulation – those remained largely untouched.

And now, we have Maher pointing out that Xi Jinping seems to have discovered the key to Trump’s heart: lavish praise and the occasional golf outing (metaphorically speaking, I assume). So, does this mean we can expect Trump to go soft on China if he gets back into office? Will those tariffs disappear faster than you can say “Kung Pao Chicken”?

Trump’s Contradictory History (Exhibit A: 2012)

Here’s where things get particularly…Trumpian. He’s notoriously inconsistent. Remember in 2012, when he was railing against China’s currency manipulation on Twitter (of course)? He called them “economic enemies” and accused them of “stealing our jobs.” The irony, of course, is that fast forward a few years, and he’s the one being accused of cozying up to them, at least according to Maher’s logic.

The truth is, Trump’s approach to China has always been a bit of a rollercoaster. One minute he’s threatening to impose crippling tariffs, the next he’s praising Xi Jinping as a “great leader.” It’s enough to give any economist (or sentient human being) whiplash.

The Potential Upside (Maybe?)

Look, I’m not saying that flattery is a sound foreign policy strategy. But if it gets China to actually play fair on trade, I’m not entirely opposed to it. A stable, mutually beneficial economic relationship with China is good for everyone (except maybe those of us who enjoy complaining about the price of imported goods). But let’s be realistic. Relying on Trump’s ego to secure that outcome is like betting your retirement savings on a horse race where all the horses are ridden by toddlers. It’s a gamble, to say the least.

The Bigger Picture: It’s the Economy, Stupid (Still)

Ultimately, the issue with China isn’t just about tariffs or trade deals. It’s about global economic power, technological competition, and national security. China is a rising superpower, and the U.S. needs to figure out how to navigate that reality without sacrificing its own interests. Whether that involves tough tariffs, strategic flattery, or some combination of both remains to be seen.

But one thing is certain: relying solely on Trump’s gut instincts and susceptibility to praise is a recipe for disaster. We need a coherent, long-term strategy that addresses the underlying issues and doesn’t just rely on the whims of one man (who, let’s be honest, is easily swayed by shiny objects and compliments).

What Happens Next? (Your Guess is as Good as Mine)

If Trump wins in 2024, we can expect more of the same: unpredictable policy shifts, bombastic rhetoric, and a healthy dose of ego-driven decision-making. Whether that will ultimately benefit the U.S. economy is anyone’s guess. But I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

Snarky Takeaway

So, China knows what Trump likes? Shocking. Truly. What’s next, water is wet? The real takeaway here is that relying on a strategy of “flattery-based foreign policy” is about as reliable as a screen door on a submarine. Buckle up, folks. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.