"A man who has shown authoritarian yearnings in his own country discrediting elections, cowing universities, accusing journalists of treason visibly delighted in one where the strongman fantasy is made flesh. Not for the first time, he was far better behaved in one of the world's most repressive regimes than when he shows up in Europe's democracies like a human wrecking ball."
"There has been a strange, uncharacteristic deference and circumspection about Trump since he left Washington. Unusually, he did not speak to reporters on the long Air Force One flight nor did he post about his meeting with President Xi Jinping on his Truth Social platform. Xi warns Trump of clashes and even conflicts' with US over Taiwan"
"Climbing out of the presidential limousine at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday morning, Trump fiddled with his jacket, as if nervous, eventually deciding to button it. Trump stopped to applaud children who waved bouquets of flowers and US flags. He had previously predicted that Xi will give me a big, fat hug on arrival. It wasn't quite that but there was a warm handshake and, as they walked a red carpet, the septuagenarians of similar stature looked like birds of a feather."
"The US president surely loved the cool, clinical pomp of the arrival ceremony: martial music, troops with bayoneted rifles and ceremonial uniforms marching in lockstep and, as The Star-Spangled Banner played, a 21-gun salute echoing across Tiananmen Square. It was worth remembering that last year Trump organised a military parade in Washington on his own birthday 14 June, one day before Xi's and has previously spoken with awe about Chinese soldiers being of the same height."
Trump spent the first day of his summit in Beijing amid strict ceremonial pageantry, managing to avoid offending his hosts. He offered a positive verdict that China is beautiful and appeared visibly delighted by a setting that matches his strongman preferences. His behavior contrasted with how he has acted in Europe’s democracies, where he is described as disruptive. After leaving Washington, he showed unusual deference and circumspection, including not speaking to reporters on the flight and not posting about his meeting with Xi on his platform. During arrival at the Great Hall of the People, he buttoned his jacket, applauded children with US flags, and received a warm handshake. The arrival ceremony featured martial music, troops in ceremonial uniforms, and a 21-gun salute across Tiananmen Square.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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