Schumer attacks Trump by receiving Xi: “An innate attraction for dictators”

“This man has an innate attraction for dictators”, said Schumer, in a speech in the Senate plenary, referring to the American President.

“There’s something really wrong with him,” the Democratic senator added.

Schumer's criticism arises during Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to Washington, which began on Wednesday with a reception at Andrews Air Base, where Trump personally welcomed Chinese leader and woman Peng Liyuan.

The programme includes a military ceremony in the White House, bilateral talks and a state dinner, at a time when the two countries maintain disagreements about trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the war in Iran.

The visit prompted criticism from Democratic congressmen, who demanded Trump to stand firm before Beijing on alleged Chinese support for Iran.

In a letter sent to the White House this week, Democratic delegates argued that the President should take advantage of the meeting to condemn the role assigned to China in providing arms and support to Tehran and to demand the end of this collaboration.

The reservations to Xi's reception extend, however, to the Republican Party.

President of the Senate Armed Forces Commission, Roger Wicker, stated that he would have advised against such a visit, taking into account the differences between Washington and Beijing.

Other Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell, urged Trump's government to advance military assistance and arms sales to Taiwan, fearing that the diplomatic approach to China would undermine the defence capacity of the self-governed island, whose sovereignty is claimed by Beijing.

The White House justified the reception as a retribution of Trump's visit to China in May, arguing that the President seeks diplomatic relations to promote American interests.