Washington, Jan. 9 — President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia and China fear the United States because of the strength of his administration. In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that both nations “have zero fear of NATO without the United States” and that “the only nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT rebuilt USA.”
Trump also weighed in on China and Taiwan, asserting that President Xi Jinping “would think twice about taking aggressive action toward Taiwan” under his leadership. He argued that U.S. military strength and his assertive foreign policy restored American influence globally, suggesting that without his leadership, Russia would now control all of Ukraine.
But experts caution that these claims are more political rhetoric than verified reality. “China and Russia react to U.S. policy as strategic rivals,” said Dr. Emily Zhang, a senior analyst on East Asia at the Atlantic Council. “There is no indication that Beijing or Moscow genuinely fears the United States. Their decisions on Taiwan or Ukraine are guided by national interests, not intimidation.”
Dr. Markus Weber, a geopolitical analyst at the German Council on Foreign Relations, added, “Trump’s claims overstate U.S. influence. Both Russia and China act to maximize their own strategic advantages. Their behavior is rooted in regional security and power projection, not personal fear of the U.S. president.”
Surveys of Chinese public opinion support this view. Many citizens favor a balanced approach toward the United States rather than confrontation, and analysts emphasize that China’s growing military and technological capabilities reflect confidence, not fear. Russia, meanwhile, continues to frame U.S. military and diplomatic actions as destabilizing rather than threatening.
Experts stress that the dynamics between the U.S., Russia, and China are driven by competition, strategic calculation, and rivalry, not fear alone. “Geopolitical relationships are far more complex than simple fear narratives,” Dr. Zhang said.
While Trump’s remarks resonate with his supporters and reinforce his “America First” messaging, analysts warn that they should not be interpreted as a literal reflection of how global powers perceive the United States.
