US President Donald Trump has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are among the world leaders he admires the most. Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump described Xi as “all business” and called PM Modi “a very tough cookie”. The remarks came shortly after Trump returned from the G7 summit in France, which he described as “very dominant”.
Refuses to Name Weakest World Leaders
During the interview, Trump declined to identify any world leaders he considers weak. Instead, he spoke about the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the G7 group.
Trump pointed out that the forum was once known as the G8 before Russia was removed following its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Praises Macron and Versailles Dinner
Trump also recalled French President Emmanuel Macron hosting a dinner for him at the historic Palace of Versailles. Describing the grand venue, Trump said the imperial setting was “my weakness”, suggesting he was impressed by the event.
Trump Says He Has Found “No Limits” to His Power
In the interview, Trump claimed that he had discovered “no limits” to his power following the recent confrontation with Iran. His comments come ahead of the release of a new book, Regime Change, written by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.
New Book Details Trump’s View of His Power
According to the book, Trump reviewed a document that compared his power with some of history’s most powerful rulers, including Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong and Adolf Hitler.
The authors say Trump read through the document and explained why each figure was less powerful than a modern US president. He reportedly noted that past rulers did not have access to modern tools such as airplanes.
The book also claims Trump appeared pleased to be compared with historical leaders who shaped the world through conquest and force.
Truth Social Post Sparks Attention
Trump later shared the document discussed in the book on Truth Social on Thursday. According to the authors, the document argued that Trump’s ability to exercise power on a global scale makes him the most powerful person in history.
The writers also claim that a presidential historian did not write the document, as Trump suggested, but by a longtime caddy and close associate of legendary golfer Gary Player.
Trump on G7, Israel and Netanyahu
Throughout the interview, Trump frequently spoke about power and influence. He claimed that G7 leaders accepted his joke that “I’m the boss”. Speaking about Israel, Trump said the country has “a lot of respect for me” and will “do as I say”. Trump further stated, “If it weren’t for me, Israel would not exist today.” Discussing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said their relationship is “good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane”.
Criticises Republican Hardliners Over Iran
Trump also addressed criticism from some Republicans over his Iran policy. He described some former allies as “hardliners” and said he no longer respects them. Trump maintained that the outcome of the Iran conflict amounted to “unconditional surrender” and “regime change”, even though the final result did not fully match his original demands.
First published on: Jun 19, 2026 11:31 PM IST
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