President Donald Trump sent his warmest regards to the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea on Wednesday.
The pleasantries, though, came with a twist — in the very same breath, he accused Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un of conspiring against the United States as the trio gathered at a massive military parade in Beijing.
Though the grand display of missiles and marching troops may have been capped by the release of 80,000 doves into the skies of the Chinese capital, the American president suggested he saw something altogether more sinister behind the spectacle.
“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”
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The Kremlin, which has pressed on with its war against Ukraine despite Trump’s peace push, brushed off the accusations.
“No one was plotting any conspiracies, no one was plotting anything,” foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told state television Wednesday. “Moreover, no one even had such a thought.”
Ushakov said he suspected — and hoped — that there was at least a little irony in Trump’s ire.
Conspiracy or not, the parade and its trio of high-profile attendees served as an unmistakable message to Trump and others watching in the West.
Xi defiantly declared China was “unstoppable” and said that humanity must choose between peace and war as he outlined his alternative to the U.S.-led global order that has been buffeted by added turbulence in the Trump era.
On the surface, the “Victory Day” parade marked the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. In practice, it was a colossal display of strength, showcasing hypersonic missiles, drones, and fighter jets as part of Xi’s push to modernize the military and challenge the West.
A host of countries at odds with the U.S. and its allies were in attendance for this display of unity by the “Axis of Upheaval.” No U.S. delegation was present, but one notable American seemed to be watching on.
Earlier in the day, Trump had struck a more relaxed tone, telling The Scott Jennings Radio Show he was “not concerned at all” about China and Russia possibly forming an axis.
“We have the strongest military in the world by far,” he said. “They would never use their military on us, believe me. That would be the worst thing they could ever do.”
But he sounded more concerned later.
In his Truth Social post, Trump mentioned the “massive amount of support and ‘blood’” the U.S. gave China during World War Two.
“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!”
