Throughout his presidency, Trump has repeatedly sided with authoritarian leaders, rejecting U.S. intelligence and offering defenses for their human rights abuses. He did it again today at his North Korea summit, when he said he took the word of a murderous dictator about his knowledge of the murder of an American hostage.

Trump said he trusted Kim’s assertion that he had no involvement in or knowledge of the torture and murder of American college student Otto Warmbier.

Trump: “He tells me he didn’t know about it, and I take him at his word.”

Trump: “I don’t believe he would have allowed that to happen. It just wasn’t to his advantage to allow that to happen.”

Trump took Mohammad bin Salman at his word over U.S. intelligence on the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Trump: “Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!”

Trump: “We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. 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 has repeatedly taken Putin’s side on election interference over the consensus of U.S. intelligence agencies.

Trump: “I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”

Trump: “I strongly pressed President Putin twice about Russian meddling in our election. He vehemently denied it.”