No, they judged that he was an idiot who was susceptible to flattery. Given the information they had, it was a good call. However, Trump has a deep and abiding hatred of East Asians - it's the closest thing he has to a principle.
That hatred is going to be the undoing of the USA because instead of letting fear take over, China chooses to the one thing that China, despite what the USA/west says all the time, is not only very good in, but is in fact the only nation that has ever won against the USA when no other nation has dared to do and very soon is going to be the nation that will exceed even that, to fight to the bitter end and never give up. China is only getting started against the USA and no matter what moves the USA will use, China will counter ensure that what ever damage the USA does cause China, that the USA will suffer 1000x worse and that every time this leaves a more, it will never heal, I mean take a look at their breaking down infrastructure that is entirely on the USA, I don't see any projects being done to address this problem and very soon, this damage will be forever