‘We Agree On So Many Things’: Trump Sings Praises of Egyptian Autocrat

President Donald Trump sang the praises of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during brief remarks to the press at the White House on Monday.

“President el-Sisi has been somebody that’s been very close to me from the first time I met him,” said Trump. “We agree on so many things.”

The gushing continued.

“I just want to let everybody know, in case there was any doubt, that we are very much behind President el-Sisi. He’s done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation. We are very much behind Egypt and the people of Egypt. And the United States has, believe me, backing, and we have strong backing.”

The Egyptian president then gave his own remarks through a translator. “I’ve had a deep appreciation and admiration of your unique personality, especially as you’re standing very strong in the counter-terrorism field,” he said.

Mr. Trump ended the press spray by remarking that he, “look[s] forward to a very long and strong relationship.”

Then-candidate Trump had complimented the Egyptian leader shortly after his first meeting with him in September 2016: “He’s a fantastic guy,” said Trump “He took control of Egypt. He really took control of it.”

El-Sisi has been criticized by many human rights monitors since he took power in 2013. In addition to el-Sisi, Trump has also praised other world leaders/regimes with controversial records on human rights, including Vladimir Putin and the Chinese communist government.

[image via screengrab]

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