Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNine Notorious Dictators, Nine Shout-Outs From Donald Trump
Nine Notorious Dictators, Nine Shout-Outs From Donald Trump
The president of the United States continues to heap praise on the world's most reviled rulers.
Krishnadev Calamur 11:37 AM ET Global
The Chinese Communist Partys attempt to allow President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely set off harsh criticism in China, as well as international opprobrium. But the power grab appears to have at least one fan: Donald Trump.
Hes now president for life. President for life. No, hes great, Trump said of Xi at a lunch and fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago estate, according to CNN, which obtained a recording of the remarks. And look, he was able to do that. I think its great. Maybe well have to give that a shot some day.
Context, of course, is everything. Trump may well have been joking (CNN hasnt yet released the audio of the remarks), but his comments about Xis hold on power in China, a Communist dictatorship, add to Trumps long history of offering support or even outright praise for dictators and strongmen the world over.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
What Trump said about him: If he says great things about me, Im going to say great things about him. Ive already said, he is really very much of a leader. I mean, you can say, Oh, isnt that a terrible thingthe man has very strong control over a country. Now, its a very different system, and I dont happen to like the system. But certainly, in that system, hes been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.
When: September 2016
Context: The remarks werent the first time Trump expressed his admiration for the Russian leader. Hed done it well before he announced was running for president, and before interference in the U.S. election system was a glint in Putins eyeas well as many times afterward. But praising Putins strong leadership in a country where the Russian leaders political opponents are harassed, jailed, or simply disappear is a bit like praising the punctuality of the railways in a fascist regime. The U.S. State Department, in its most recent human-rights report, described restrictions in Russia on political participation; the suppression of civil society; and allegations of torture. Human Rights Watch said that the government had tightened control over the already-shrinking space for free expression, association, and assembly and intensified persecution of independent critics. The Russian presidential elections later this month, which are expected to result in another term for Putin, all but ensures that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.
What Trump said about him: If he says great things about me, Im going to say great things about him. Ive already said, he is really very much of a leader. I mean, you can say, Oh, isnt that a terrible thingthe man has very strong control over a country. Now, its a very different system, and I dont happen to like the system. But certainly, in that system, hes been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.
When: September 2016
Context: The remarks werent the first time Trump expressed his admiration for the Russian leader. Hed done it well before he announced was running for president, and before interference in the U.S. election system was a glint in Putins eyeas well as many times afterward. But praising Putins strong leadership in a country where the Russian leaders political opponents are harassed, jailed, or simply disappear is a bit like praising the punctuality of the railways in a fascist regime. The U.S. State Department, in its most recent human-rights report, described restrictions in Russia on political participation; the suppression of civil society; and allegations of torture. Human Rights Watch said that the government had tightened control over the already-shrinking space for free expression, association, and assembly and intensified persecution of independent critics. The Russian presidential elections later this month, which are expected to result in another term for Putin, all but ensures that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte
What Trump said about him: I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem.
When: April 2017
Context: The Philippines president has boasted about killing suspected drug dealers when he was a local mayor. Extrajudicial killings of drugs suspects have risen since Duterte became president in June 2016. Trump reportedly favors the death penalty for drug dealerspresumably ones who have been convicted. The U.S. State Department noted last year that police and unknown vigilantes have killed more than 6,000 suspected drug dealers and users as the government pursued a policy aimed at eliminating illegal drug activity in the country by the end of the year. Human Rights Watch said Duterte has plunged the Philippines into its worst human rights crisis since the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s and 1980s. It added that Dutertes most prominent critic was detained on politically motivated drug charges.
What Trump said about him: I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem.
When: April 2017
Context: The Philippines president has boasted about killing suspected drug dealers when he was a local mayor. Extrajudicial killings of drugs suspects have risen since Duterte became president in June 2016. Trump reportedly favors the death penalty for drug dealerspresumably ones who have been convicted. The U.S. State Department noted last year that police and unknown vigilantes have killed more than 6,000 suspected drug dealers and users as the government pursued a policy aimed at eliminating illegal drug activity in the country by the end of the year. Human Rights Watch said Duterte has plunged the Philippines into its worst human rights crisis since the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s and 1980s. It added that Dutertes most prominent critic was detained on politically motivated drug charges.
more...
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/trump-xi-jinping-dictators/554810/
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
0 replies, 578 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (4)
ReplyReply to this post