China is pulling far ahead of the US in AI, manufacturing, and infrastructure, which is bad news for American workers, American tech companies, and US power abroad.

• Chinese cities have been rebuilt with AI-driven factories, electric vehicles, and modern airports while US rust belt cities like Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Baltimore look the same or worse.
• During COVID, the US spent $10 trillion on aid while China invested in industry, and now Chinese EVs and robotics are beyond what Tesla offers.
• Trump brought 12 US tech CEOs including Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and Elon Musk to China because their companies are falling behind rivals like BYD.
• China has weaned itself off Persian Gulf oil, so the Iran war hurts the US more than it hurts China and gives Xi leverage at the summit.
• Taiwan may eventually fall to China without an invasion since US missile stockpiles are drained and China keeps growing stronger.

Outlook: Trump faces a trap on Iran — escalate the war or accept Iran getting a nuclear weapon — and either choice weakens the US heading into the midterms.