‘Sad’: John McCain Slams Trump for Not Making Human Rights a ‘Priority’ in Duterte Meeting

Senator John McCain called out President Trump on Twitter for not making human rights more of a priority in his meeting with Rodrigo Duterte.

The President of the Philippines has gotten tons of international criticism for extrajudicial killings in the national drug war. A few months ago, a leaked transcript of Trump’s conversation with Duterte said the U.S. president told him he’s doing an “unbelievable job on the drug problem.”

Trump met with Duterte during his Asia trip this past week. Human rights reportedly came up briefly during the meeting, according to the White House, but a spokesperson for Duterte claimed that the matter did not come up.

A joint statement from the U.S. and the Philippines released today says “the two sides underscored that human rights and the dignity of human life are essential”…

NEW: U.S., Philippines release joint statement following Trump-Duterte meeting; statement underscores that “human rights and the dignity of human life are essential.” https://t.co/40EtCjfoAJ pic.twitter.com/JuCkFIGqlJ

— ABC News (@ABC) November 13, 2017

…but McCain, for the second time in this past week, called out the President for not making human rights more of a priority:

And human rights obviously not a priority in @POTUS’s meeting with Duterte – again, sad.

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) November 13, 2017

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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