COMMENT | US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Malaysia has been widely criticised as revealing our country’s “performative solidarity” with the Palestinian cause.

However, this has not been the first time Malaysia has welcomed a disgraced American president at a time of global condemnation against US-backed military violence.

Oct 30, 1966, nearly six decades ago, Malaysia received its first American presidential visit from Lyndon B Johnson at the height of the Vietnam War.

In disturbing historical parallels, the anniversary of Johnson’s visit had also taken place only a few days apart from Trump’s visit to Kuala Lumpur on Oct 26 last week.

More disturbingly, however, were the reasons for Johnson’s visit, which had been to thank Malaysia for supporting the US “anti-communist efforts” in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.