It appeared to be based on the reasoning that politicians often said things on the campaign trail that they did not go through with in office.
It ignored the fact Trump is not a politician.
Key drove home the message that if the US did not want to extend its influence in the Asia Pacific China was ready and waiting to raid the piggy bank itself.
Key also used Apec to float the suggestion New Zealand was on the cusp of re-commencing trade negotiations with Russia.
Key sought out Russia's President Vladimir Putin to convey that message.
But it was clearly a message intended for the US as much as Russia.
It reinforced Key's point at the Apec CEO's Summit that if the US did not want to play free trade, other playmates could be found.
Key's message to the CEO's Summit at Apec did not only get attention from New Zealand media. It was reported on by international media including CNN and the Financial Times.
The subtext was that things have come to a pretty pass when Communist China is taking a stronger leadership role in areas such as free trade and climate change than the self-proclaimed Leader of the Free World.
And China was certainly pushing home its advantage.
At Apec, President Xi Jinping pushed hard for free trade and the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Xi did not refer directly to the election of Donald Trump, beyond reference to "temporary difficulties."
He told business and leaders: "China will not shut the door to the outside world but will open it even wider."
It prompted the Financial Times to describe him as the "real star" of Lima.
Swapping China for the US, or the TPP for RCEP is little consolation for New Zealand given it already has a comprehensive free trade agreement with China.
But there was some good news to flow New Zealand's way from China's determination to step into the breach.
The APEC timing of the announcement about the upgrade of the FTA between New Zealand and China was no coincidence.
The New Zealand Government had not expected to get agreement on the terms for the upgrade talks until mid 2017.
Given that, there was some surprise China agreed to a pitch from New Zealand for an Apec-timed announcement.
That was made during visits by Foreign Minister Murray McCully and Trade Minister Todd McClay in the weeks leading up to the US election.
It makes New Zealand the first developed country to get a free trade agreement with China and the first in line for an upgrade. It was China showing it can walk the talk.
The US was not only the prize New Zealand wanted. It was the prize most other countries also wanted.
Trump has announced the US will now look to bilateral agreements rather than multilateral agreements involving groups of countries.
A little country waits and the signs are that it will wait for a long time.
The Government will push to try to get in the queue. But that will not be easy.
It may pay to remember Trump is not a politician.
Trump may not like swamps, but he does like fairways and greens.
The only thing Trump appears to know about New Zealand is that it is the homeland of golfer Sir Bob Charles.
Australia's Malcolm Turnbull had to resort to going to Australia's golfer Greg Norman to get Trump's number when trying to hook up a meeting.
Perhaps New Zealand should take a leaf out of Turnbull's book and enlist Sir Bob to try to get attention.
