Machado and Jimmy Lai: Flattery Masters, Trump’s Worthless Cards

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado just scored a White House visit with Trump. But she didn't just heap praise on the "Emperor"—she handed over her freshly minted Nobel Peace Prize. Talk about a cringe-inducing ringkissing.

It's a textbook playbook for currying favor with a kingmaker. Watch closely how this "bootlicking virtuoso" operates, though, and you'll spot three uncanny parallels with Jimmy Lai. She's heading down the same path—straight to becoming another discarded "worthless card" in Trump's deck, left with nothing to show for it.

Machado's Peace Prize presented as a gift to Trump. Textbook bootlicking to win the "Emperor's" backing—straight from Jimmy Lai's playbook.

Masters of the Art

First, both excel at stroking Trump's ego—and neither blinks at dialing up the flattery a hundredfold. Machado mounted that Peace Prize medal in a gilded frame and presented it to Trump with honeyed words: "a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom".

Walking out of the White House clutching a red gift bag emblazoned with Trump's signature, she practically glowed, shouting to supporters: "We can count on President Trump!" Then came the clincher: that the country’s transition would involve “several phases,” with the eventual outcome to be a society that is “profoundly pro-America.”

This kind of sycophancy rings familiar in Hong Kong. Shortly after Trump first took office in January 2017, Jimmy Lai locked onto him as his primary flattery target. That June, when Trump forged a "free trade alliance" with post-Brexit Britain to break from the EU, Lai rushed to pen an article declaring Europe "ossified" and "bullying Trump," while twisting facts to claim Trump wasn't pursuing protectionism. Commentators nailed it then: Lai's relentless "Trump-boosting," piling on endless praise, was all about preserving his status as "America's chief agent."

During the anti-extradition period, Lai elevated Trump to "great saviour" status—the "only hope" for bringing democracy and freedom to China and the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, bordering on religious worship. Lai even wrote that Trump's reelection "would benefit world peace." Those accolades match Machado's recent praise of Trump as "the great benefactor saving Venezuela" word for word.

All Chips on Trump

Second, both went all-in on Trump, staking everything on him. After her White House meeting, Machado told supporters, "We can count on Trump" —in other words, she's banking on Trump to install her as Venezuela's president.

After the Hong Kong National Security Law took effect, Lai pinned even bigger hopes on Trump, believing that if the "Emperor" acted, Beijing would buckle. So Lai told his subordinates that both he and Apple Daily depended on Trump for survival, and no news unfavorable to Trump's campaign could be published.

Third, both believed themselves to be Trump's "trump card," oblivious to the fact that in Trump's mind, they're just useless "worthless cards." After snagging the Peace Prize, Machado rode high, eagerly hoping to return home and seize power. Trump threw ice-cold water on that dream, publicly stating she'd struggle to become Venezuela's leader because she lacks sufficient domestic support. Translation: she's not the chosen one—he won't help her ascend to power.

Trump's Realpolitik

According to inside sources, Machado got dumped primarily because US intelligence officials and senior government figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, all concluded she's not the right person to govern. Forcing her into power would intensify Venezuela's internal chaos—contrary to US interests in taking control. Trump's a 100% pragmatist who values oil over promoting democracy. What matters most is stable transition, so he heeded his advisors' counsel, discarded Machado, and chose acting President Delcy Rodríguez instead.

Jimmy Lai's fate follows an eerily similar script. Trump recently told a right-wing podcaster that he'd already raised Lai's case with President Xi in Busan, adding "I'll leave it to him to decide"—essentially saying, I've done my bit, whatever happens next isn't my business. Close observers interpret this to mean that for Trump, the Lai card no longer holds much bargaining value—it's now a useless "worthless card." Sound familiar? That's strikingly similar to Machado's current predicament.

Lai bet everything on Trump to save him. Wrong bet. He's just a "worthless card." Now Machado's learning the same hard lesson.

Here's the interesting part: when discussing both Machado and Lai, Trump still pays lip service, calling both "very wonderful people," leaving himself room to maneuver. But their fate of being abandoned won't change because of those kind words.

Lai Ting-yiu

What Say You?

** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **

For years, a US passport was the gold standard. Not anymore.

The Henley Passport Index—the gold standard ranking compiled by British immigration consultancy Henley & Partners—just dropped its latest scorecard. And the numbers tell a brutal story: America's passport has slipped to 10th place globally.

Sounds respectable, right? Wrong. Because of tied rankings, 37 countries and regions actually sit above the US. Compared to a decade ago when America dominated the top three spots, this is a freefall.

US passport drops below 37 countries—Trump's bullying backfires as ranking plunges from top three.

China, meanwhile, tells the opposite story. Its passport has rocketed from 94th place in 2015 to 59th in the latest rankings—a 35-position surge in just ten years. And Hong Kong's SAR passport? It climbed to 15th place, its highest ranking since 2014.

Why the US passport declines? Simple. America has been playing the bully. Washington has tightened visa requirements for other countries while slashing reciprocal agreements. Then there's Trump's big-stick diplomacy—swinging wildly, making enemies everywhere. Several countries have already revoked visa-free access for Americans. Brazil is just one example.

The American passport now grants visa-free access to 179 destinations. That's 13 fewer than Singapore, which holds the top spot. In other words, that blue booklet doesn't guarantee smooth sailing anymore.

Dr. Christian Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, nailed it when analyzing last year's US decline: "Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind." He didn't name names. He didn't have to.

China's Strategic Opening

China is clearly one of those countries "embracing openness and cooperation" that Kaelin mentioned. With 139 visa-free destinations, China's passport now ranks 59th globally—up from 94th in 2015. That's a 35-position leap in ten years.

The reason? Beijing extends the hand of friendship everywhere. Last year alone, China granted visa-free entry to 30 additional countries. Given the principle of reciprocity, it's no surprise that visa-free destinations for Chinese passport holders have multiplied dramatically.

Hong Kong's Impressive Climb

The Hong Kong SAR passport's performance is equally striking. It jumped from 18th place last year to 15th this January—its highest ranking since 2014. With over 170 visa-free destinations compared to America's 179, Hong Kong trails by just a handful of spots.

Hong Kong SAR passport hits 15th place—highest since 2014—and closing fast on the US.

And catching up isn't out of reach. Beijing actively cultivates friendships through foreign policy and has paved the bright path of the Belt and Road Initiative. Riding this tailwind, Hong Kong is developing economic, trade, and financial relationships with countries along the route. More nations will likely grant visa-free access to SAR passports as these ties deepen. If that happens, Hong Kong's ranking could climb several more positions.

The British Passport Isn't Faring Better

Here's an irony worth noting: Many Hong Kong people who emigrated to the UK are desperately seeking British citizenship. Yet the British passport is also sliding in global rankings—falling from 6th place two years ago to 8th, with eight fewer visa-free destinations year-over-year. Its "gold content" is clearly decreasing, and the gap with Hong Kong SAR passports is narrowing fast.

Don't underestimate what these passport rankings reveal. America's deteriorating status reflects more than weakening "soft power"—it's the direct consequence of Trump's unjust actions and bullying behavior. When you offend people everywhere, eventually there's a price to pay.

Lai Ting-yiu