Washington • In the category of small mercies, let us file this one: As strongmen go, President Trump has proved to be blessedly weak.
It isn’t, apparently, for lack of ambition. The president, who has never been stingy in praising the world’s dictators, engaged in that favorite pastime again Saturday night before a friendly audience in what was supposed to be a private event at Mar-a-Lago.
The object of the president’s affection this time was China’s president, Xi Jinping, whom Trump hailed as a “great gentleman” who treated Trump “tremendously well” during Trump’s recent visit.