Trump’s Persecution Claims Get Amplified by US Rivals Abroad

After Donald Trump’s felony conviction last week, commentators in China and Russia wasted little time in trumpeting the failure of American democracy.

Chinese social media users reacted with bemusement, urging Trump supporters to again storm the US Capitol and warning of a civil war. State-run CCTV called the upcoming election a “farce.” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said “the entire world” could see Trump was being persecuted “by all possible lawful and unlawful means.”

Former US President Donald Trump, center, departs following a news conference at Trump Tower in New York, US, on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg

Of course, Russia and China have long blasted the US system. But this time, their claims echoed those of Republican legislators following ...