Trump Praised Kim Jong Un’s Authoritarian Rule and Defended His Human Rights Abuses

Ahead of Trump’s second summit with Kim Jong Un, here’s a look at some of the many times Trump has refused to condemn Kim’s human rights abuses, while praising his authoritarian rule:

Trump praised Kim Jong Un’s “tough” leadership and refused to condemn his human rights abuses.

Trump: “I understand the past and, you know, nobody has to tell me, he’s a rough guy. He has to be a rough guy or he has been a rough person.”

CBS News: “‘You know you call people sometimes killers, he is a killer. He’s clearly executing people,’ Baier said.  ‘He’s a tough guy,’ Mr. Trump responded.”

Trump, when questioned on Kim’s history of brutality: “Look, he’s doing what he’s seen done, if you look at it. But, I really have to go by today and by yesterday and by a couple of weeks ago because that’s really when this whole thing started.”

Trump defended Kim Jong Un’s human rights abuses by saying there were violations all over the globe by other ruthless leaders.

Associated Press: “Beaming in the moments after his summit with Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump was asked about North Korea’s history of human rights horrors. ‘It’s rough,’ he allowed. Then he added, ‘It’s rough in a lot of places, by the way. Not just there.’ Trump’s verbal shrug in Singapore represented a striking change from the way U.S. presidents have viewed their job, a shift from the nation’s asserted stance as the globe’s moral leader in favor of an approach based more on trade-offs with adversaries and allies alike.”

CBS News: “Baier paused, before pressing, ‘But he’s still done some really bad things.’ Mr. Trump downplayed Kim’s actions, suggesting Kim isn’t alone in that. ‘Yeah, but so have a lot of other people done some really bad things,’ Mr. Trump said. ‘I mean, I could go through a lot of nations where a lot of bad things were done. ’”

Trump, when told Kim was a “ruthless dictator:” “Sure he is. He’s a ruthless – but so are others. I could name plenty of others that we deal with that you don’t say the same thing about. We have – plenty of the people that I deal with are pretty ruthless people.”

Trump said he did not care about Kim Jong Un’s human rights abuses because he had “good energy with him.”

Trump, when read a list of Kim’s human rights abuses: “Sure. I know all these things. I mean– I’m not a baby. I know these things…I get along with him, okay?”

Trump: “Look. Let it be whatever it is. I get along with him really well. I have a good energy with him. I have a good chemistry with him.”

Trump praised Kim Jong Un’s authoritarian rule.

Trump: “You know, he’s a strong guy. Hey, people were saying, what’s he like. He’s got a very good personality, he’s funny and he’s very, very smart. He is a great negotiator and a he’s a very strategic kind of guy.”

Trump: “Hey, he is the head of a country and I mean he is the strong head. Don’t let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.”