US President Donald Trump has praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping as “very strong leaders,” describing them as “tough,” “smart,” and “not to be toyed with.” The remarks were made during a “60 Minutes” interview on CBS, where Trump emphasized the seriousness of both leaders. “Both tough. Both smart. Both – look, they’re very strong leaders. These are people not to be toyed with. These are people you have to take very seriously,” he said. Trump added that neither Putin nor Xi engages in small talk, stating, “They’re not walking in saying, ‘Oh, isn’t it a beautiful day?’ These are serious people.”
Trump also highlighted the nuclear capabilities of both nations and claimed discussions on denuclearization with their leaders. On US-China relations, he asserted that despite challenges, he and Xi “get along great,” citing a trade deal he described as satisfactory. Regarding Russia, Trump reiterated his claim of a “very good relationship” with Putin and criticized former President Joe Biden for the Ukraine conflict, stating, “That was a war that would’ve never happened if I was president.” He claimed to have resolved eight wars using trade leverage and expressed confidence in securing a ceasefire in Ukraine “in a couple of months.”