# Post x_928769154345324544

- Post ID: `x_928769154345324544`
- Platform: X (Twitter)
- Posted: 2017-11-09T23:39:56.000Z (UTC)
- Deleted: no
- Repost: no
- Canonical URL: https://trump.fm/post/x_928769154345324544
- Analysis page: https://trump.fm/post/x_928769154345324544/analysis
- Audio narration: https://static.trump.fm/audio/x_928769154345324544.mp3 (a synthesized voice reading the post text, not a recording)

## Post text

> I don’t blame China, I blame the incompetence of past Admins for allowing China to take advantage of the U.S. on trade leading up to a point where the U.S. is losing $100's of billions. How can you blame China for taking advantage of people that had no clue? I would've done same!

## Engagement

- Likes: 135,908
- Reposts: 29,359
- Replies: 0
- Views: unknown
- Metrics collected: 2026-01-31T23:43:13.385Z (UTC)

# Analysis

_Machine-generated by trump.fm on 2026-03-12T01:31:50.845Z (UTC): a model's reading of this post, not his words. Its psychological terms describe the language, not a clinical assessment of him._

## Psychological Analysis: Post x_928769154345324544

### Context
Trump is in Beijing during his state visit to China (November 9, 2017). The post timestamp is 23:39 UTC, which is approximately 7:39 AM local time in Beijing (UTC+8). This is early morning, consistent with authentic Trump posting.

### Authorship
The post reads as authentic Trump. Key indicators: conversational stream-of-consciousness style, rhetorical questions, colloquial phrasing ("people that had no clue"), the characteristic self-insertion ("I would've done same!"), and the contrarian framing that simultaneously flatters his host (Xi) while attacking predecessors.

### Psychological Dynamics
This is a fascinating post because it performs multiple psychological functions simultaneously:

1. **Flattery of Xi/China** — While visiting Beijing, Trump explicitly exonerates China for exploitative trade practices. This is strategic narcissistic supply-seeking: by praising his host, he secures reciprocal admiration.

2. **Attack on predecessors** — The real target is "past Admins" (Obama, Bush, Clinton). This elevates Trump by contrast: they were incompetent, he is not.

3. **Identification with the aggressor** — "I would've done same!" is remarkable. Trump identifies with China's exploitation, admiring the predatory behavior and implicitly claiming he possesses similar cunning. This reveals a transactional, zero-sum worldview where exploitation is admired rather than condemned.

4. **Projection of competence** — By framing predecessors as having "no clue," Trump implicitly claims superior negotiating acumen.

### Defense Mechanisms
- **Splitting**: Past admins = all bad, incompetent; Trump = competent, savvy
- **Idealization**: China/Xi idealized during the visit (contrast with later rhetoric)
- **Projection**: Incompetence attributed entirely to others

### Rhetorical Analysis
The post uses a rhetorical question ("How can you blame China...?") to make the argument feel self-evident. The $100s of billions figure is hyperbolic but grounded in real trade deficit numbers. The closing exclamation personalizes and dramatizes.

## Fact Verification

| Claim | Verdict | Evidence |
|-------|---------|----------|
| "U.S. is losing $100's of billions on trade with China" | **Mostly True** | The 2017 U.S. goods trade deficit with China was approximately $375 billion. The phrasing '$100s of billions' is roughly accurate for goods, though economists note trade deficits are more complex than simple 'losses.' |

Overall Veracity: 80%

## Authorship Analysis

**Self-Written** (score: 85%)

### Indicators

- Conversational rhetorical question
- Colloquial phrasing ('people that had no clue')
- Self-insertion ('I would've done same!')
- Early morning Beijing time posting
- Stream-of-consciousness quality

## Psychological Profile

### State

**Grandiose State**

**Trigger:** Supply Seeking (State visit to China, desire to maintain positive relationship with Xi while asserting own superiority)

Sentiment: -0.15

### Clinical

**Malignant Narcissism:**
- Narcissistic: 60%
- Antisocial: 40%
- Paranoid: 10%
- Sadism: 20%

**Defense Mechanisms:**
- splitting (immature)
- idealization (immature)
- devaluation (immature)

**Cognitive Complexity:**
- Complexity: 55%

**Parasocial Techniques:**
- Rhetorical question engaging audience as co-reasoners
- Common-sense framing to build consensus

## Fact Checks (1)

_The model's verdicts from 2026-03-12._

> U.S. is losing $100's of billions on trade with China

**MOSTLY TRUE**

The 2017 U.S. goods trade deficit with China was approximately $375 billion. The phrasing '$100s of billions' is roughly accurate for goods, though economists note trade deficits are more complex than simple 'losses.'

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau trade data

Overall Veracity: 80%

## Tags

- trade (80%)
- china (90%)
- predecessor_attack (70%)
- state_visit (60%)

## That day

_From trump.fm's machine-generated digest of the day, not his words._

**Beijing Charm Offensive: A Day of Diplomatic Flattery and Strategic Blame-Shifting**

Trump spent the day in Beijing during his state visit to China, posting glowing praise of President Xi Jinping and the lavish reception at the Forbidden City. The tone was consistently upbeat and diplomatic, with most posts appearing staff-written. The one authentically Trump-voiced post blamed past U.S. administrations -- not China -- for trade imbalances, a notably generous framing while being hosted by Xi. He completely ignored several domestic controversies including the Roy Moore sexual misconduct allegations and mounting pressure on Jeff Sessions over Russia testimony.

Full digest for 2017-11-09: https://trump.fm/date/2017-11-09/analysis

## Citation

- APA: Trump, D. J. (2017, November 9). I don’t blame China, I blame the incompetence of... [Social media post]. X (Twitter). trump.fm. https://trump.fm/post/x_928769154345324544
- MLA: Trump, Donald J. "I don’t blame China, I blame the incompetence of past..." X (Twitter), 9 Nov. 2017. trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_928769154345324544. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.
- Chicago: Donald J. Trump, "I don’t blame China, I blame the incompetence of past...," X (Twitter), November 9, 2017, archived at trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_928769154345324544.

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