<p><span>Since taking office, President Trump has repeatedly praised </span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/06/trump-putin-and-the-new-cold-war">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a><span>, held two summits with </span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/18/the-risk-of-nuclear-war-with-north-korea">Kim Jong Un</a><span>, of North Korea, and hosted </span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/13/the-future-of-americas-contest-with-china">Chinese President Xi Jinping</a><span> at Mar-a-Lago. Trump relies on his instincts when it comes to the conduct of foreign policy, and his sycophancy toward dictators has been a defining feature of his Presidency. He has had a somewhat different approach to the Iranian leadership. Last week, Trump ordered an air strike that killed Qassem Suleimani, a high-ranking Iranian official, escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. </span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/evan-osnos">Evan Osnos</a><span> joins Dorothy Wickenden to discuss what Donald Trump may not understand about the minds of authoritarian leaders.</span></p>
Since taking office, President Trump has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, held two summits with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, and hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago. Trump relies on his instincts when it comes to the conduct of foreign policy, and his sycophancy toward dictators has been a defining feature of his Presidency. He has had a somewhat different approach to the Iranian leadership. Last week, Trump ordered an air strike that killed Qassem Suleimani, a high-ranking Iranian official, escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Evan Osnos joins Dorothy Wickenden to discuss what Donald Trump may not understand about the minds of authoritarian leaders.