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It’s Not Just Trump Who’s Good At Putting On A Big Show
You know who else is? China’s President Xi.
It all started with Xi just happening to turn up in St. Petersburg last week, while Trump was in Europe to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day. Oh, and Xi called Putin his “best friend”, a comment that got really played up in Chinese media, and even by the BBC!
What immediate impact is that buddy weekend with Russian President Putin likely to have on global relations? Other than to distract from NATO nations’ show of unity that’s lasted 75 years? None at all. But Xi calling Putin his best friend, and making sure Chinese media spread the word illustrates just how well he knows Trump. Because Trump thought Xi’s best friend was him. Even with a trade war raging, Trump has repeatedly gone out of his way to say he doesn’t blame the Chinese President for unfair trade practices. Rather, he blames previous U.S. Presidents. Trump has repeatedly called Xi “a great friend”, although Chinese media is also helpfully pointing out Xi has never reciprocated with similar epithets.
That’s gotta hurt. Trump’s so sensitive to how he’s viewed by world leaders, and goes to such great extent to cozy up to them, he even pledged recently not to spy on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. When the Wall Street Journal reported this week that Kim’s brother…
