Donald Trump insisted that “it’s not even a contest” that the Middle East would be better off if Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi were still in power during an interview airing Sunday on “Meet the Press” with Chuck Todd.
Trump stated that “Iraq is a disaster” and if Gaddafi stayed in power in Libya, “You wouldn’t have had your Benghazi situation which is one thing which was just a terrible situation.”
Chuck Todd: You think the Middle East would be better today if Gaddafi, Saddam and Assad were sort of Saddam and Gaddafi were still there and Assad were stronger? You think…
Donald Trump: Not even–
Todd: –the Middle East would be safer?
Trump: –it’s not even a contest, Chuck. It’s not even a contest. Iraq is a disaster. And ISIS-
Todd: So, it’d be better off if Saddam were in charge?
Trump: Don’t forget. ISIS came out of Iraq.
Todd: Right. No, I understand.
Trump: –the leftovers that didn’t get taken care of.
Todd: Well, let me button this up. If Saddam and Gaddafi, you think things would be more stable?
Trump: Of course it would be. You wouldn’t have had your Benghazi situation which is one thing which was just a terrible situation. But, of course, it would. Libya is– is not even– nobody even knows what’s goin’ on over there. It’s not even a country anymore.