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Donald Trump praised the Vladimir Putin's strength, but noted that he was not "endorsing Putin." | Getty Trump defends comments on Tiananmen Square, Putin

Donald Trump still thinks the Chinese government showed “strength” when they killed more than 200 people to crush pro-democracy student protests in 1989 — but he's not saying he agrees with what the regime did.

“That doesn’t mean I was endorsing that,” Trump said. “I said that was a strong, powerful government. They kept down the riot, it was a horrible thing.”

Trump told Playboy in a 1990 interview: "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. Our country is right now perceived as weak."

Asked about comments that seeming supported authoritarian leaders, Trump also discussed past statements praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I think Putin’s been a very strong leader for Russia, he’s been a lot stronger than our leader, that I can tell you,” Trump said. “That doesn’t mean I’m endorsing Putin.”

John Kasich countered that the Chinese government committed an atrocity.

“The Chinese government butchered those kids, and when that young man stood in front of that tank — we ought to build a statue of him over here when he faced down the Chinese government,” Kasich said referencing an episode captured in an iconic photograph.