Vance Claims There’s Nothing Wrong with Trump Complimenting Leaders Like Xi and Putin

Republican vice-presidential candidate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, dismissed concerns regarding former President Trump’s positive remarks about world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vance argued that there is nothing inappropriate about Trump complimenting these leaders.

During an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” host Margaret Brennan questioned Vance about Trump’s characterization of Xi and Putin as “lovely individuals” at a rally in Montana last week. Vance responded by emphasizing that Trump’s ability to connect with world leaders could enhance his diplomatic effectiveness.

In response to Brennan’s suggestion that Trump’s comments might not align with a more assertive diplomatic approach, Vance stated, “It’s not actually different, because you’re better able to lay down the law, like President Trump did, if you actually have a good relationship with people and they trust you.”

Vance also noted that Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have criticized Trump for fostering good relationships with leaders like Putin.

Trump has often faced criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans for appearing overly friendly towards authoritarian leaders. Notably, he has previously praised Xi as “smart, brilliant, everything perfect,” while also acknowledging Xi’s strong grip on power in China.

In addition, Trump has made similar comments about Putin, even claiming he was the “apple of [Putin’s] eye” during his presidency. Vance echoed Trump’s narrative, asserting that under Trump’s leadership, Putin did not invade any additional countries—a stark contrast to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which escalated under the Biden administration.

“When Donald Trump was president, Vladimir Putin didn’t invade another country. When Kamala Harris was vice president, he did,” Vance pointed out. He suggested that current leaders could benefit from studying Trump’s approach to establishing diplomatic credibility, believing that Trump’s results stemmed from the respect he garnered from global leaders.

Overall, Vance’s comments highlight a broader conversation about the effectiveness of diplomacy that sometimes blurs the lines between friendship and political strategy. The contrasting approaches to foreign relations under different administrations continue to be a point of debate as the political landscape evolves.