Trump is fond of "tough and meaner" tyrannical leaders
President Donald Trump admitted in a recording published Monday that he was fond of autocratic leaders, saying that the "more cruel and mean" they were, the better he got along.
Journalist Bob Woodward played the recording on NBC's "Today" program, ahead of the publication of his book, "Anger," on Tuesday, which is based on 18 recorded interviews he gave with Trump.
In the latest excerpt from the recordings to be released, Trump explains why he was so close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who shut down independent media and put tens of thousands of people behind bars in a massive crackdown in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt.
Trump also drew attention to his unusual rosy gaze of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders accused of committing horrific human rights violations.
Trump is heard saying in the interview taped on January 22: 'I agree very well with Erdogan, although I am not supposed to do it because everyone is saying,' What a terrible man. '”
“For me, things are going well,” he said.
"I can tell you that the relationships I have, the tougher and more malicious they are, the better I get along with them."
The US president, who had expressed his "love" for Kim and had praised President Xi while he was quarreling with his traditional democratic allies in NATO, seemed to be unsure why he was so attracted to such leaders.
"You'll explain that to me one day, okay?" Said Woodward.
And Abizaid: "Lennon are those who may not like them very much, or do not get along with them very much."
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