Trump says he trusts Xi and Putin not to aid Iran
"Well, I don't know that they're enabling. I mean, I will tell you that President Xi said he will not partake and President Putin said the same thing. I think, you know, I trust them."
About this episode
The MeidasTouch episode argues that Donald Trump has “frozen up” amid escalating tensions involving Iran, and centres on claims about China’s positioning and US decision-making. The host says Beijing issued statements backing Iran’s sovereignty and describing it as a “comprehensive strategic partner”, framing it as a direct rebuttal to Trump’s assertion that Xi Jinping had pledged not to supply Iran. The episode also plays a White House press exchange in which Trump says he does not know whether Russia and China are “enabling” Iran, but claims Xi and Vladimir Putin told him they would not “partake” and adds that he trusts them.
The host further plays another Trump clip in which Trump says Iran “want[s] to make a deal” and that the US is talking to Iran “as we speak”, while also describing a “military exit” of continued or intensified strikes. The presenter disputes Trump’s characterisation of Iran’s willingness to negotiate.
Separately, the episode includes a clip from congressional testimony where Pete Hegseth says there are “adversary alignment” efforts and that Russia and China are enabling Iran “at different levels”, while stressing that the “depth and extent” should remain classified; Gen Dan Caine declines to discuss specifics publicly. The host also makes additional battlefield-claims about Iranian strikes and Patriot system performance, presented without documentary verification in the transcript.
Key takeaways
- Trump says he does not know whether Russia and China are “enabling” Iran, but claims he trusts Xi and Putin not to “partake”.
- Trump says Iran wants a deal and claims the US is talking to Iran “as we speak”, while also floating intensified strikes.
- A clip from Pete Hegseth’s testimony says Russia and China are enabling Iran “at different levels”, with details kept classified.
- Gen Dan Caine declines to discuss specifics in open session, saying he does not want an adversary to know what he knows.
- The host asserts China publicly reaffirmed support for Iran’s sovereignty and strategic partnership, disputing Trump’s account of Xi’s private assurances.