You want to know the tell? Watch who walks in first.
I spent thirty years on the casino floor in Atlantic City. Dealers, pit bosses, high rollers. You learn to read an entrance. The man who owns the room walks in easy. The man who needs something from the room, he walks in loud.
Tuesday, the President of the United States flew to Beijing. Brought twelve men with him. Elon Musk. Jensen Huang. Tim Cook. Larry Fink. He posted the lineup on Truth Social the night before. Called them the world’s greatest businessmen.
His ask for President Xi: open up China. Let these brilliant people “work their magic.”
Thirty years I watched guys walk up to a table like that. Big smile, big voice, big friends behind them. The ones who came in asking for something always said it louder than the ones who didn’t have to ask.
Now. Elon Musk makes Teslas in Shanghai. Has for years. His Chinese factory is one of the biggest in the world. He flew to Beijing with the President, to help negotiate what America gets out of China.
I am not a complicated man. I just notice things.
The President who ran on America First flew to Beijing with twelve of America’s richest men to request, politely, that China let those same men do more business there.
A band was playing when they landed.
It was a nice touch.
The breakdown.
- Factual basis AP, USA Today, and CNN confirmed the trip, the passenger manifest, and the Truth Social post verbatim.23/25
- Self-awareness Posted the CEO lineup publicly the night before, called them 'the world's greatest businessmen,' and promised Xi they would 'work their magic.' No irony detected.18/20
- Staff containment Elon Musk, whose Tesla factory in Shanghai generates billions annually, was in the delegation and photographed talking with the President at the arrival ceremony.13/20
- Recovery attempt No spin required. The White House appears to view bringing twelve billionaires to Beijing as the strategy, not a complication.7/15
- Public spectacle Live band on the tarmac, China's Vice President on hand, motorcade through Beijing. Full production.17/20
Was this dumb enough?
Members can adjust the score. Become a member.