Former US President Donald Trump doubled down on his past admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping, sparking fresh discussions about his relationships with global leaders.
Speaking to a crowd, Trump reflected on his rapport with the Chinese leader, saying, “I don’t think they like me, but I like them and we actually had a very good relationship. President Xi, myself. Somebody said, what kind of a man is he? He’s a fierce person.He’s a very smart guy.”
Trump didn’t stop there, going on to describe Xi as “brilliant” and lauding his leadership over China’s 1.4 billion citizens.
“He rules with an iron fist. Press gets upset when I say he’s a smart man. The real enemies are enemies from within,” he added.
Trump has long touted his warm relationship with Xi, despite a historically contentious trade relationship between the US and China during his presidency. In 2020, while still serving as president, Trump claimed that he and Xi “love each other,” even as his administration imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump’s admiration for strongmen has extended beyond Xi. In recent days, attention has returned to his past ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid reports of secret conversations during and after his presidency. Veteran journalist Bob Woodward’s forthcoming book War alleges that Trump and Putin engaged in covert discussions, with one notable exchange involving Covid-19 testing machines. The book suggests that the US and Russia struck a deal in 2020, exchanging the machines—an arrangement that, had it been made public, could have ignited a political firestorm in the US.
Trump’s cozy relations with world leaders like Xi and Putin have often placed him at odds with his critics, who argue that his personal diplomacy risks compromising US interests.