The Daily Beast Podcast This is How Trump Just Got Triply Humiliated
Sep 4, 2025
In a fascinating discussion, David Rothkopf, a former Clinton administration member and editor of Foreign Policy, explores Donald Trump's tumultuous week on the international stage. He reveals how Trump was caught on a hot mic discussing deals with Putin while leaders like Modi diminish his peacemaker narrative. The conversation contrasts China's grand military parades with Trump's mishaps, critiques his fixation on petty interests, and examines his controversial 'Gaza Riviera' plan. Rothkopf highlights the shifting global dynamics where China and others advance as Trump remains stuck in the past.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump Sees Diplomacy As Personal Popularity
- Donald Trump treats geopolitics as personal popularity contests rather than structural power shifts.
- This mindset weakens the U.S. and amplifies China's global influence.
Modi Undercuts Trump's Peacemaker Myth
- India shifted toward engaging China despite past antagonism, undermining Trump's peacemaker myth.
- Modi publicly undercut Trump's claim about solving India-Pakistan issues and signaled independence.
China's Parade Was A Strategic Power Display
- China staged a highly choreographed military and tech display that contrasted sharply with Trump's failed parade.
- The spectacle signaled China's rising confidence and technological progress to the world.
