We seem to be living in the age of the autocrats, where Presidents Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin bestride the globe. The gathering this week of the U.N. General Assembly in New York seems a mere sideshow to the real power game at the Trump-Xi summit. 

But appearances can be deceptive: This may be the twilight of the dictators’ era, not the dawn. The three global strongmen are aging—Trump is 80, and Xi and Putin are 73—and all three are beset by speculation about their health. They rule decisively, but over fragmented countries. None has created a plan to sustain his legacy.

We seem to be living in the age of the autocrats, where Presidents Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin bestride the globe. The gathering this week of the U.N. General Assembly in New York seems a mere sideshow to the real power game at the Trump-Xi summit. 

But appearances can be deceptive: This may be the twilight of the dictators’ era, not the dawn. The three global strongmen are aging—Trump is 80, and Xi and Putin are 73—and all three are beset by speculation about their health. They rule decisively, but over fragmented countries. None has created a plan to sustain his legacy.

All three suffer from what might be called autocrats’ disease. In their arrogance, they make mistakes. Putin made a catastrophic blunder invading Ukraine in 2022, expecting a quick victory. Trump made a similar error attacking what he thought was a feeble Iran in February. They both sink deeper into the morass. Putin’s army has suffered 1.4 million dead and wounded. Trump’s war has cost some $43 billion and shattered his political base. 

Truly powerful leaders don’t bluff. But there was Trump, once again, on Tuesday at the United Nations threatening to “annihilate” Iran if it doesn’t capitulate. There’s a phrase poker players use for someone who mistakenly believes he has an unbeatable strategy. They say he’s “on tilt.” That’s Trump. 

Xi takes fewer military risks, so his errors aren’t so obvious—but they’re very real. Xi........

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