Trump says he is "doing him very big favors" by trusting Xi and Putin not arming Iran

President Donald Trump stated he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are not arming Iran, despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier telling Congress that both countries are enabling Tehran’s war effort. Trump’s remarks, posted on Truth Social, came after 13 consecutive nights of U.S. strikes on Iran and amid reports of Russian satellite assistance to Iran. The president framed his trust in Xi and Putin as a matter of personal diplomatic favor, saying he is “doing him very big favors,” while his own Pentagon leadership has signaled concern over foreign support for Iran. This gap between Trump’s assurances and official intelligence assessments raises questions about how the administration will reconcile conflicting messages, with potential implications for escalation if outside involvement is confirmed.