Sad to say, he’s gone to that great negotiating table in the sky. And let’s face it: Marco Rubio is no Henry Kissinger.

As for Donald Trump . . . well, except for a similar (and greater) propensity for dishonesty, he’s no Richard Nixon, either. Not when it comes to foreign affairs, at any rate.

Nixon, for all of his faults, understood foreign policy. He listened to his advisers, who were learned, experienced people. And I’d be willing to bet he could pronounce Thucydides.

Trump probably thinks that name belongs to a Greek martial arts master. And, in a sense, he’d be close — just off by a couple of millennia.

Thucydides was an Athenian historian and army general, best known for his “History of the Peloponnesian War.” Sometimes called the father of the school of political realism, he viewed the political behavior of individuals and the resulting outcomes of relations between states as based upon, and ultimately mediated by, fear and self-interest.

Clearly, a man before his time.

Around 2011, American political scientist, Harvard Professor of Government, and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Graham Allison popularized the term “Thucydides Trap” in describing the tendency toward war when an emerging power (such as China) threatens to displace an existing great power (such as the United States) as a regional or international leader. His basis was the writing of Thucydides himself, stating that:

“ . . . it was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.”

– Thucydides, “History of the Peloponnesian War”

Allison then expanded on this theory in 2017 when he wrote:

“China and the US are currently on a collision course for war.”

– Graham Allison, “Destined for War”

And yesterday, Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked the “Thucydides Trap” during his opening remarks when meeting with Donald Trump in Beijing. Xi questioned whether China and the U.S. could overcome the “Thucydides Trap,” and added that “The East is rising and the West is declining.” [Elliott Davis, The Hill, May 14, 2026.]

Later — presumably after someone on his staff filled him in on who this Thucydides person was — Trump posted on X:

“When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct. Our Country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!” [Id.]

As if anxious to display the full level of his ignorance and arrogance, he went on to add that Xi “was not referring to the incredible rise that the United States has displayed to the world during the 16 spectacular months of the Trump Administration . . .” making reference to his attacks on Venezuela and Iran. And he continued:

“In fact, President Xi congratulated me on so many tremendous successes in such a short period of time. Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline. On that, I fully agree with President Xi! But now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world, and hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!” [Id.]

Years from now, when our children and grandchildren study this period of U.S. history, they won’t believe what they are reading and being told, because it truly does defy belief.

Unless, of course, they’re reading it in Chinese.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/15/26