I think the defining moment is that IF China gets man back to the moon before the US, that will be the moment when it becomes too hard to ignore. That is the new political high ground.
The Chang’e missions plan for this in 2030 and they have hit every target to date. While the US is currently targeting 2028, it isn't inconceivable that it can slip by two years.
I think that would just end in people who had nothing to do with Apollo (having been children or born after) claiming that it didn't matter because America had been there decades ago, rather than looking inwards and considering what it says to have lost the means to go back.
"Congratulations to China! They were the second nation to land on the Moon, just a few decades after the greatest nation in history landed there first, the United States of America.
We are not in a hurry now, because we already won that race many decades ago!
The Fake News Media is reporting that NASA completely lost the Moon race to China. A total disaster! Under my Administration, Space Force is winning BIG. Now, Beijing is supposedly up there doing who knows what. Fake flags, very low quality! The moon is ours, and Mars too (which the Moon is part of!). MAKE AMERICA SPACE AGAIN!
The Chang’e missions plan for this in 2030 and they have hit every target to date. While the US is currently targeting 2028, it isn't inconceivable that it can slip by two years.