Chinese professor made three predictions for US in 2024, two turns out to be true

As tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to simmer, clips from his 2024 lecture are being widely shared online.

Published on: Mar 05, 2026 6:04 PM IST

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What began as a quiet academic lecture in 2024 has now resurfaced and spreading rapidly across social media. A Chinese-Canadian academic, Jiang Xueqin, had predicted that Donald Trump would return to power and that the United States would face a war with Iran.

A Chinese-Canadian academic, Jiang Xueqin, had predicted that Donald Trump would return to power and that the US would face a war with Iran. (Youtube@Predictive History)

As tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to simmer, clips from his 2024 lecture are being shared online. Some social media users have even started calling him “China’s Nostradamus”.

What are the three predictions he made?

In a lecture recorded in May 2024, Jiang made three striking predictions.

First, he said Donald Trump would return to the White House.
Second, he suggested that a renewed Trump presidency could lead to a military conflict with Iran.
Third, he warned that such a war could end badly for the United States.

Who Is Jiang Xueqin?

Jiang Xueqin is an educator who teaches philosophy and history in Beijing. He is a graduate of Yale College and has spent years working on education reform and curriculum design in China.

Also read| The Iran war has been a stunning operational success

Beyond the classroom, he runs a YouTube channel called Predictive History, where he analyses historical cycles, geopolitical interests and game theory in an attempt to forecast global events.

With the first two developments appearing to unfold, the lecture has gained fresh traction online.

During the lecture, Jiang compared a possible US invasion of Iran to a failed military campaign launched by Athens in ancient Greece that ended in disaster.

Also read| Iran jets were '2 mins away' from striking largest US base. Then this happened

A long conflict ahead?

In his most recent lecture, Jiang suggested that the conflict may not end quickly. He believes the war could stretch on for a long time and potentially reshape global politics.

Jiang on TV show

Jiang recently appeared on the news and opinion programme Breaking Points, where he spoke in detail about his assessment of the conflict.

During the discussion, he argued that Iran currently holds several strategic advantages over the United States. He said that the situation has turned into a war of attrition, and Iran has spent nearly two decades preparing for such a confrontation.

He also pointed out that Iran has already tested its capabilities through earlier confrontations. Referring to a 12-day conflict last June, Jiang said the episode allowed Iranian forces to closely study and evaluate the strike capabilities of both Israel and the United States.

He added that the months since then have given Iran additional time to prepare for a larger confrontation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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