President Donald Trump is known for taking dictators at their word while undermining the expertise of his own intelligence officials. Who he listens to ― and whose wisdom he rejects ― offers an important glimpse into how the president approaches major world affairs. Trump has, in a relatively short amount of time, managed to alienate many of the United States’ traditional world allies while aligning himself with leaders whose governing tactics fly in the face of democratic values. Putin vs. Intelligence Officials Trump has largely taken Russian President Vladimir Putin’s word that Moscow did not interfere in the 2016 presidential election, despite contrary findings of U.S. intelligence agencies. The president has also gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal details about his interactions with Putin. Putin told an Austrian news outlet last summer that he and Trump “regularly talk over the phone.”

Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow - if so, will he become my new best friend? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 19, 2013

The disarmingly simple truth behind Trump’s relationship with Putin is that he seems to admire the Russian leader, who has been in office either as president or prime minister for nearly 20 years and who is known for suppressing civil rights and making political opponents disappear. “He is really very much of a leader. I mean, you can say, ‘Oh, isn’t that a terrible thing’—the man has very strong control over a country,” Trump told NBC in 2016. “Now, it’s a very different system, and I don’t happen to like the system. But certainly, in that system, he’s been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.” Mohammed bin Salman vs. The CIA When journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October, all signs pointed to foul play on the part of the Saudi royal family. Turkish intelligence ― backed by accounts from Khashoggi’s fiance, fellow journalists at The Washington Post where he was columnist, and the CIA ― determined Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman likely ordered Khashoggi’s assassination. Trump, however, appeared initially eager to accept the kingdom’s denials and suggested “rogue killers” might be responsible.

Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened “to our Saudi Arabian citizen.” He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2018

As more evidence of the kingdom’s involvement emerged, Trump evaluated the incident as “one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups.” Instead of rebuking the crown prince, Trump doubled down on his allegiance to the kingdom. “We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi,” Trump said in a November statement. “In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran.” Trump even called into question the CIA’s determination that MBS ordered the journalist’s killing. “Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” the president said. Kim Jong Un vs. The parents of Otto Warmbier The accommodations Trump has made for Kim Jong Un are, if not worse than those he’s made for other authoritarian leaders, definitely some of the most unprecedented. Trump is the first sitting U.S. president to have met with a North Korean leader. He met with Kim last June and again this week, failing to reach a clear agreement on nuclear disarmament but walking away both times with an apparently positive impression of the notorious leader. “He is the head of a country, and I mean he is the strong head,” Trump told Fox News after the 2018 meeting. “He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.” Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Trump said of Kim: “I trust him. I take him at his word.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS Trump is the first sitting U.S. president to have met with a North Korean leader.