Donald Trump called in to Morning Joe Friday morning, where he was asked by Mika Brzezinski what he thought of Vladimir Putin’s comments about him being a “very outstanding person, talented, without any doubt.” Trump was naturally pleased with the remarks, because why wouldn’t he be? He replied: “When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia.”
Joe Scarborough then jumped in to remind him that Putin is also a madman who kills journalists and political opponents, but of course Trump was unfazed, shooting back, “He’s running his country, and at least he’s a leader, you know, unlike what we have here in this country.” (So…Obama would have to nuke Fox News to earn Trump’s respect? I’m confused.) When Scarborough pushed the whole killing journalists issue, Trump again dismissed him by saying that there’s a lot of “killing and stupidity” around the world.
It was only on the third try when Scarborough asked him point blank whether Trump “obviously condemns Putin killing journalists and political opponents,” that Trump responded, “Oh sure, absolutely,” but not without going on to praise the Russian president as a “strong, powerful leader.”
If he hadn’t recently brushed off George Stephanopoulos asking him about comparisons to Hitler, these latest remarks by Donald Trump might surprise me. But I’m getting the impression that deep down, Trump really just wants to use the United States presidency as an excuse to go shirtless horseback riding with Vladimir Putin. Guy’s got a serious bro crush going on.