After rolling out the red carpet for President Xi of China, Joe Biden calls him a dictator.

 

Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. Reuters.

After a major state meeting with President of Xi of China where relations were improved, Joe Biden has again called Xi a "dictator". Reuters. Biden had called Xi a dictator last June and a reporter asked if he still felt the same way. Biden replied "Look, he is. He's a dictator in the sense that he's a guy who runs a country that is a communist country that's based on a form of government totally different than ours,". China responded and condemned the comments, saying they strongly opposed them. 

My Comment:

Biden is absolutely terrible at diplomacy. He had actually had a minor victory with his negotiations with China, securing the resumption of military ties, but then he made this comment, which probably undid a lot of progress he had made. It's the very definition of an own goal. 

Do I think Xi is a dictator? Kind of. In theory China has elections and they could presumably get rid of Xi if they wanted to. That hasn't really been tested and until it happens we don't know what would happen and since that is the case it can be argued that Xi is indeed a dictator. I prefer to think of him as an Emperor myself, since it's China we are talking about, but that's neither here nor there. 

Regardless it's idiotic to call Xi this when Biden is trying to improve relations with China. China is obviously not happy about it. It was a diplomatic insult and one that China isn't just going to shake off. Did it undo all the progress that was made with the talks? Time will tell, but it certainly wasn't going to help things.

I also think it's another example of Biden's senility. It seemed like he was saying whatever he thought without thinking about the consequences. I am guessing his handlers had a heart attack when he said it. If Biden wasn't a million years old I don't think he would have said it, instead he would have been more diplomatic to say the least. Or call out the reporter for asking the question. But he could have hardly handled it worse. 

It also demonstrates the difference between Biden and Trump. Trump was known for insulting people, including heads of state, but in his case he only did it before a big meeting like this. After the big meetings, like the one with Kim Jong Un that essentially froze the threat there until Biden got into office, Trump treated people diplomatically, offering praise and support. Trump would have managed this question better, and would probably have mocked the reporter for asking it. 

What is even more strange about this whole thing is the fact that Biden rolled out the red carpet for Xi. They cleaned up San Francisco, a task I didn't think was even possible, for him. They welcomed him like a conquering king, with flags and banners. They basically treated him like he was the President of the United States, not Biden. It was rather absurd and fairly disrespectful to America. 

So why treat Xi like a king and then insult him? It makes no sense. And I do think it was just Joe Biden having yet another senior moment. And I am guessing that Biden's handlers are falling over themselves to explain to China that Biden's comments were just him being a dotard and isn't official US policy. 

And if Xi really is a dictator like Biden says, why would we roll out the red carpet for him? I have no problem with meeting with foreign dictators, kings and other unsavory characters but we don't have to treat them better than we treat our own citizens. Again though, I think this was just Biden being Biden, the man is not well and should not be president.