President Trump defended Russian leader Vladimir Putin as “a killer” and suggested that the United States is just as bad.
Bill O’Reilly asked Trump to explain how he could respect the Russian president in a Fox News clip expected to air on Sunday.
“But he’s a killer though. Putin’s a killer,” O’Reilly told Trump, referencing the Kremlin’s alleged penchant for extrajudicial deaths.
“We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think — our country’s so innocent,” Trump callously replied in the “O’Reilly Factor” interview taped at the White House.
Trump defended Putin in a similar fashion, well before federal officials linked Russia to a hacking plot to sway the presidential election, back when Trump was the Republican presidential candidate and the Kremlin boss had showered him with compliments.
“I think our country does plenty of killing also,” Trump said without basis in response to the December 2015 interview where MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said Putin's administration has had Russian journalists killed.
Trump's remarks came after Putin effectively endorsed his White House bid. He told reporters in Moscow that the supposed real estate billionaire is “unquestionably talented.”
Trump made a similar defense in 2015 shortly after Russian President Putin said Trump was "talented."
(ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)
“There’s a lot of stupidity going on in the world right now, Joe. A lot of killing going on, a lot of stupidity,” the future President added.
In the latest interview — slated to air before the Super Bowl — Trump said he respected Putin in addition to “a lot of people.”
He ultimately hopes for the former Cold War rival’s help in fighting the Islamic State, he told O’Reilly.
“I say it’s better to get along with Russia than not,” Trump said.
“Will I get along with him? I have no idea,” he added.
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