For many years, the US has been the flagship of globalisation. But with the election of Donald Trump, the rhetoric has changed. At the same time, in Davos, Xi Jinping showed the will to step up and lead the globalisation movement forward. This thesis explores the conundrum of this apparent reversal of roles between China and the US in their attitudes toward globalisation. Through the theories of liberalism and realist constructivism it researches their domestic and international motivations, as well as their visions of globalisation. Finally, it discusses the gap between rhetoric and action of both leaders and consequences for policies.