President Donald Trump reacted on social media as Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared together in Beijing for China’s largest-ever military parade on Wednesday.
Trump accused Xi of “conspiring against” the United States during the parade, which marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.
“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America,” Trump wrote.
Trump also mentioned America’s role in World War II, writing, “The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its FREEDOM from a very unfriendly foreign invader.”
“Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!” he added.
At the parade, held in front of the Tiananmen Gate, Xi praised the Chinese People’s Liberation Army as a “heroic force” and spoke about nations treating each other as equals.
“The Chinese nation is a great nation that does not fear violence, and that stands independent and strong,” Xi said. “In the past, when confronted with a life-or-death struggle between justice and evil, light and darkness, progress and reaction, the Chinese people stood united, rose up in resistance, and fought for the survival of the country, the rejuvenation of the nation and the cause of human justice.”
Yuri Ushakov, a top aide to Putin, dismissed Trump’s claims of a conspiracy.
“I want to say that no one organized any conspiracies, no one was weaving anything, no conspiracies,” Ushakov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin. “Moreover, no one even had that in their minds, none of these three leaders had that,” he said.
“Everyone understands the role that the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally play in the current international arrangements,” Ushakov added.
Kim, Xi, and Putin met at the parade amid concerns from Ukraine and Western countries about their cooperation in supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February 2022.
Putin invited Kim to meet on the sidelines of the parade, and the two leaders spoke after the event, according to a Kremlin readout. Putin thanked Kim for sending North Korean troops to fight in Russia’s western Kursk region last year, saying, “I would like to emphasize that your soldiers fought valiantly and heroically. We will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your military personnel.”
In reply, Kim said, “As I said during our previous meeting, if there is anything we can do to help Russia, we will certainly do that, and we will regard this as our fraternal duty. We will do everything in our power to assist Russia.”
The North Korean Foreign Ministry said Kim was “enveloped in an atmosphere of the warmest friendship and enthusiastic welcome” upon his arrival in Beijing.
Ukrainian and Western governments have accused North Korea of supplying large amounts of ammunition and troops to support Russia’s war, while Kyiv and NATO allies view China as Moscow’s main source of material and a crucial economic partner.
