I understand it to be geopolitically significant. Biden, head of state for a big country. Xi, head of state for another big country. China's made it known they don't want Xi called a dictator. Biden's done it anyway.

It's the scale of the thing that matters here. It's a political statement of gravity. He's calling any bluff they've got going, and demonstrating that the USA doesn't respect China enough to use their preferred nomenclature. It's a calculated insult and a challenge.

[–] cyd@vlemmy.net 2 points 1 year ago

It's a calculated insult and a challenge.

Occam's Razor says that Biden, a famously gaffe-prone politician, simply made a gaffe.

[–] orbit 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A challenge yes, but hard to see as an insult by the audience as while the term isn't flattering in a modern context it's closer to how Xi has aligned himself.

[–] AlgeriaWorblebot 1 points 1 year ago

I see the insult less in the word itself than in its usage despite express policy to the opposite.