Donald Trump’s past eyebrow-raising praise of Chinese President Xi Jinping has resurfaced as the U.S. president attends a two-day summit in Beijing.

Footage from Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign has been circulating on social media, showing him speaking admiringly about Xi and his power over the one-party state that is frequently criticized for human rights abuses.

“He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist,” Trump said at one event.

“They want me to say he’s just of average intelligence, OK,” he continued. “But the look, the whole thing — he stands in front of a million soldiers, they walk by, and they want me to say bad things. I can’t say bad things.”

Trump praises Xi Jinping: He’s brilliant. He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron first. I can’t say bad things about him pic.twitter.com/eKur8qEqsO

Trump made similar remarks about Xi’s control on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he also described the Chinese president as “a brilliant guy.”

During the Beijing summit, Trump struck a similarly warm tone in his face-to-face remarks, telling Xi: “You are a great leader.”

“It’s an honor to be with you,” he added. “It’s an honor to be your friend, and the relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”

On social media, critics called out his previous fawning over Xi:

“Control” is what sticks out most. Because that’s what he wants. He wants to control this country, not lead it.

He is a disgrace 😒

Find someone who fawns over you the way Trump fawns over dictators

OMG!! What an embarrassment

Trump wishes he had that sort of control

Probably the most un-American statement uttered by a United States President!

I dont admire "iron fists."

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