Exclusive: Trump admires China's Xi as "very smart" with "great stature"
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President Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping on "The Axios Show," calling him one of the world's greatest leaders, "very smart" and "all business."
Why it matters: Trump has long admired leaders who wield centralized power and stamp their will on history. He skipped over traditional American allies when asked which world leaders he respects.
The big picture: Trump's position on China as an economic and political competitor is clear — imposing huge tariffs, setting up fights over chips and AI, flirting with arms sales to Taiwan.
- But if he doesn't care for China Inc., he's certainly fond of its CEO, par for the course for someone who spent his life in a relationship-driven industry like real estate.
- Trump and his top aides often cast any macro difficulties with China in micro-personal terms — whatever problem may come up between the two superpowers, the two men will work it out between themselves.
What they're saying: Trump told Axios' Marc Caputo that all great leaders share one trait: intelligence. He singled out Xi as especially sharp.
- "They're all smart. You can't get to that level without being smart. You know who is very smart — is President Xi of China. He's a very smart man. You don't get to those levels where you are running a country, even if it was a small country, you have something special."
- Trump said he and Xi "have a very good relationship" and that they "get along" well.
- Trump also praised Xi for being a "strong man. He's no games. He won't sit down and say, 'oh, what a beautiful day … Look how beautiful. Look at the sunshine.' There's none of that stuff. It's like all business, which I like. I think it's great."
Zoom in: Trump also effused over the Chinese economy, which he said is neck-and-neck with America's.
- "You know, we have the entrepreneurship and all the things you read about, but they're there just about as quick as we are. You go to something's hot, and we get there and the Chinese are standing there before us, or we beat 'em by a little bit. But I'll tell you, we're beating them on AI."
The intrigue: Historically, it's not unheard-of for the leaders of the U.S. and its opponent of the time to have a personally warm relationship.
- In the 1980s Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev famously developed a sort of friendship during a series of summits aimed at pulling the world back from the brink of nuclear war.
- This time, though, it's not entirely clear to what degree Xi reciprocates Trump's amiable feelings.
Between the lines: Trump's praise didn't stop at Xi's political prowess, though. The president is known to be fond of athletes, models and others who project strength and vitality, and he heaped some of that favor on the Chinese leader, too.
- "As an example, the look of Xi, he's got a great look. Looks don't matter, right? We don't like to, they say don't talk about looks, but he's tall. He's 6 foot 2. He's got a great stature. He's got great confidence, and he is smart."
Go deeper: Exclusive: Trump tells The Axios Show there are "no limits" to his power after Iran war
