Published 11:49 IST, September 15th 2019
Trump asks, "Where's my favourite dictator?" refers to Egypt President
Donald Trump, during a G7 Summit reception in France, called out for his favourite dictator, who was not Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, nor Kim Jon Un.
Donald Trump, at a reception during the G7 Summit, looking for his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Al Sisi called out, "where's my favourite dictator?" The incident reported by the Wall Street Journal stated that while the eye witness to the account said that the US President made the comment humorously, however, was met with a 'stunned silence.'
Dictator Abdel Fattah Al Sisi
Following the news break, the internet was flooded with claims and memes that Kim Jong Un, the North Korean dictator must be disheartened with Trump's statement.
However, the Egypt President who came to power in a 2013 coup, has his own record of stifling human rights. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has reportedly arrested over 60,000 people from the LGBTQIA+ community, atheists and political opponents. The President of Egypt also allegedly won the re-election through an unfair means, was congratulated by Trump for winning 97% of votes last year.
Donald Trump's amiability with dictators
Trump's fondness for dictators has been a known affair considering his affability with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, China President Xi Jinping amongst others.
For instance, while Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's name is affixed with the brutal proxy war in Yemen, human rights violations within the Kingdom and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi for the world, however, his relations with Donald Trump are unaffected, who considers the monarch as a "great friend."
Making a landmark visit, Donald Trump met the Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea, becoming the first-ever US President to do so. Trump calling the meeting "very historic." Trump, moreover stated that he and the North Korean Supreme Leader 'liked each other' since the day they met. He said, "A lot of really positive things are happening. Tremendously positive. We met and we liked each other from day one, and that was very important."
Updated 12:08 IST, September 15th 2019