As China hosted a lavish military parade in Beijing with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un at its side, President Donald Trump insisted he was not concerned by the show of strength. From the Oval Office, he praised the parade as “beautiful” and “very, very impressive.” Yet his remarks betrayed frustration. On social media, he sarcastically wished “warmest regards” to Putin and Kim “as you conspire against the United States of America,” reflecting unease that America’s adversaries were openly bonding, the New York Times reported.
Summit with Putin yields little on Ukraine
The irritation stems largely from Trump’s July summit with Putin in Alaska. The president had vowed to secure at least a temporary cease-fire in Ukraine or unleash crippling sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas exports. Instead, he dropped his cease-fire demand, imposed no sanctions, and watched as Moscow intensified strikes on civilian targets. Publicly he labelled the meeting a success, but aides say he is privately aggravated that Putin offered nothing concrete.
Beijing gathering highlights new alignments
The timing of the Beijing parade sharpened the contrast. Xi Jinping stood flanked by Putin and Kim, joined by leaders from Iran, Pakistan and other authoritarian states. Analysts noted that the event was an unapologetic declaration of intent to reshape the global order and challenge what they view as Western domination. “They are fairly clear in their view that the United States is the chief obstacle,” said Richard Fontaine of the Center for a New American Security.
Trump’s irritation and political optics
Trump has repeatedly issued two-week deadlines to Putin, only to let them lapse without action. On Wednesday he told reporters he had “no message” for the Russian leader and would simply react depending on Putin’s decisions. Experts say the lack of progress is politically damaging. “Putin is humiliating him on a steady basis,” said Robert Kagan of the Brookings Institution, arguing that the Beijing spectacle amplified Trump’s sense of being sidelined.
China’s symbolism and US concerns
For China, the parade was about more than military might. It portrayed Beijing and Moscow as victors of World War II while downplaying US contributions, a detail that irked Trump. Former US ambassador Nicholas Burns said the overt symbolism was designed to emphasize China’s expanding influence and its alliance with Russia. Trump, meanwhile, insisted the United States still held unrivalled strength, dismissing the idea of a new “axis” forming against Washington.
A personal slight for Trump
Historians note that Trump may also feel excluded. He has long admired authoritarian strongmen and staged his own military parade on his birthday, but it paled in comparison to Beijing’s spectacle. “At some level it is always about him,” said Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on authoritarian leaders. For Trump, the frustration is not just geopolitical but personal — a reflection of how global theatrics can cut at his sense of stature.
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