I’d ‘never kill’ a reporter, ‘but I do hate them’

And on Sunday, Trump again defended his new best friend and denied that Putin had ever given orders to kill journalists in his own country – an allegation that is widely presumed in the country and across the world.

As far as most Russians are concerned, they’d appreciate an American leader who isn’t too critical of the Kremlin. And by the way, I hate some of these people but I’d never kill them. At a gathering in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, Trump explained the criticism coming his way from the other Republican candidates: “Now, they’re jealous as hell because he’s not mentioning these people”. “The Republican frontrunner later said of the Russian president, “He’s running his country and at least he’s a leader, unlike what we have in this country”.

“When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia”, Trump said. “I think it’s frightful”, the mogul said.

“It’s never been proven that he’s killed anybody”.

Trump then said there was no evidence that Putin or his government have participated in the killing of journalists.

On Sunday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie – one of Trump’s opponents for the GOP nod – said during his own interview on “This Week” that he “wouldn’t want” Putin’s endorsement.

For McCain, Trump’s admiration of Putin is “incomprehensible”. Trump said in an interview from “This Week” on ABC. “But this isn’t like somebody that’s stood with a gun and he’s taken the blame or he’s admitted that he’s killed”. Trump holds the lead in opinion polls in his bid for the Republican nomination and was dubbed the “absolute leader” in the race by Putin on December 17. Putin in turn praised Trump this week, saying at a press conference on Thursday that the controversial businessman is a “very colorful, talented person”.

Trump, meanwhile, continued and nearly in the same breath added: “But you know nobody said: “They say he killed reporters.’ I said ‘really”? I don’t know that he has”, Trump argued. “It’s possible that he does but I don’t think it’s been proven”.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, however, does provide names of journalists killed in Russian Federation, and notes that, since 1992, 56 journalists of various nationalities have been killed in the country. You’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, at least in our country.

Donald Trump says he hasn’t seen proof that Vladimir Putin has killed journalists. Holding his 2nd Christmas themed rally where he spoke flanked by lighted wreaths & entered & exited the stage to the tune of Christmas classics, Trump assured in that he “would never kill” journalists. I think that we can do things with Russian Federation that are to our advantage, ” Trump said.