According to the article: In that reply, Trump said that he “did not support the government’s action” but stated that “a strong government was able to put down the ‘riot’ (sic) with strength. That shows you the power of strength.”
That's not what Trump said—he didn't call the students' actions a "riot". I suspect the quote was translated from English to Japanese and then back to English again.
Here's what Trump really said: When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength.
Now, I don't really like Trump's sentiment; it's admiring of the Chinese government's brute suppression. But Trump did not say that the protest was a riot.
You are correct but partially, however. His talk continued. Immediately after that he termed the students as a “riot”. Clearly. This is what the democracy activists who fled China are very angry about.
Thanks for addressing the inaccuracy.
>> Trump’s sentiment; it’s admiring ...
Recognition isn’t necessarily a form of admiration.