Overview

• Trump said on the Scott Jennings Radio Show he is "not concerned at all" about an "axis" and argued China and Russia would never use their militaries against the United States.
• He later told reporters the planned presence of Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un at the Beijing event was "Not at all" a challenge.
• Xi Jinping, Putin and Kim are expected to attend a Wednesday military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
• Trump said "China needs us" and cited a good relationship with Xi, framing the situation in economic terms rather than as a military threat.
• Reporting notes U.S.–South Korea–Japan efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation given North Korea’s advancing nuclear program and China’s assertiveness, and observers say Beijing may use the parade to project reliability following tariff-driven strains.