Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appeared to brush off the fact that Vladimir Putin kills journalists, political opponents, and invades countries, suggesting “at least he’s a leader, you know, unlike what we have in this country.”
Friday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Trump reveled in the fact Putin praised his candidacy. “When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia,” he said. (RELATED: Putin: Trump ‘Very Talented’ [VIDEO])
Host Joe Scarborough followed up, arguing that Putin “kills journalists, political opponents and invades countries. Obviously, that would be a concern, would it not?”
Trump replied, “He’s running his country, and at least he’s a leader, you know, unlike what we have in this country.”
Scarborough pressed Trump about Putin’s actions: “Again, he kills journalists that don’t agree with him.”
“Well, I think our country does plenty of killing also, Joe, so, you know,” Trump suggested. “There’s a lot of stupidity going on in the world right now, Joe. A lot of killing going on, a lot of stupidity, and that’s the way it is.”
“But you didn’t ask me the question,” Trump explained apparently realizing what he had just insinuated. “You asked me a different question, so that’s fine.”
Scarborough reiterated to Trump, “I’m confused. You obviously condemn Vladimir Putin killing journalists and political opponents, right?”
Trump responded, “Oh, sure. Absolutely.