Not fucking up and have you president do your version of Suez id rather USA have a role on the world stage than welcome our new Mandarin or Russian speaking overlords
At least in the case of Russia, this was the objective from day one. The US is strategically weaker today (in terms of alliances, power projection, public support for wars and ability to handle multiple fronts) than it has been at any time since achieving superpower status.
We've seen a massive slide toward authoritarianism over the past few decades as well, with an emphasis on "us vs them" beliefs and other childish mental habits that have become mainstream.