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China is all but openly working to help Iran in its war with the United States. Beijing has aided the Iranian leadership in avoiding billions of dollars in US sanctions on its oil sales, sent the regime components and chemicals for use in drones and military systems, and even reportedly has helped Iran kill American troops.
But you would never know that China is an adversary from the welcome President Trump gave Chinese President Xi Jinping at their summit last week.
Trump personally met Xi at the airport and literally rolled out the red carpet.
The Air Force marching band played while planes executed an honorary flyover. Later, Trump showed Xi a mocking portrait of an autopen supposedly associated with former President Joe Biden. The two laughed together, bonding over their shared contempt for Trump’s Democratic predecessor.
Trump’s obsequious performance before an authoritarian ruler actively aiding an opponent in wartime drew bipartisan exasperation. It also provoked a certain amount of bafflement. Trump throws tantrums and damaging trade wars at utterly imaginary sleights from close allies like Canada. Yet he falls to his orange belly to abase himself before a country that is directly endangering US troops.
What is he thinking?
