Palace: Trump sees Duterte doing a sensible job

US President Donald Trump underscored his eagerness to meet with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte despite worldwide condemnation of the Asian leader’s violent crackdown on drug addicts and dealers. But Spicer sought to tamp down expectations on Monday, telling reporters that “we’re not there yet”, even though the administration is “getting closer and closer every day”. Inviting the likes of Duterte over for a schmooze does not reflect well on the White House, or the nation.

In addition to noting “President Duterte’s claims that he had personally killed several suspects during his earlier tenure as mayor of Davao”, the March human rights report says that as a candidate in early 2016, Duterte “told the media that journalists should enjoy no special protections and could be “assassinated” if they were “corrupt” and took money from politicians”.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has championed a deadly war on illegal drugs, stirring a litany of controversies. He was a democratically elected leader of an Asian ally needed to counter Chinese expansionism in the West Philippine Sea, yet is the “author’ of the extrajudicial killings of more than 7,000 people”.

If you’re a monster who has murdered your own people, Donald Trump is into you.

Trump’s invitation to Duterte has been seen by some as a signal of improving ties between the Philippines and the United States under the Trump administration.

Trump did not say what conditions would need to be met for any such meeting to occur or when it could happen, but the White House later said North Korea would need to meet many conditions before a meeting could be contemplated.

The North Korea crisis was also raised.

Trump may think he is strengthening an alliance with the Philippines as a check on North Korea.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been high for weeks, driven by fears the North might conduct a long-range missile test, or its sixth nuclear test, around the time of the April 15 anniversary of its state founder’s birth. “They are gathered together for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner without the president”.

At the same time, Abella clarified that Duterte is still discerning and has yet to accept the invitation to visit Washington. “I’m supposed to go to Russian Federation; I’m also supposed to go to Israel”, The New York Times reported. But Duterte has little to no leverage over North Korea and rolling out the red carpet for him isn’t going to have much of an impact on the situation.

Obama scrapped a meeting with Duterte last September following those comments. That’s not the kind of leader the USA president usually invites to drop by.

“It was not a distancing (of relations) but it was rather a rift between me and the (US) State Department and Mr Obama, who spoke openly against me”, he said.

Still, foreign-policy experts see Trump’s most recent praise for strongmen like Duterte and dictators like Kim as part of a broader, more troubling pattern.

And Ivanka Trump used to be the poster girl for the project – a billboard with her likeness on it was used to market the $150 million building, described on the Trump Organization’s website as an “illustrious skyscraper (that) is already being recognized for its breathtaking architecture, exquisite design, ultra-exclusive amenities and unparalleled standards of luxury – attributes uniquely synonymous with the Trump brand name”.

Donald Trump Jr., left, and Eric Trump, with Manila developer Jose E.B. Antonio.

Before taking office in January, Trump announced a plan to place his business holdings in a trust overseen by his two adult sons.

Jake Tapper, host of CNN’s The Lead, said he is “always” in favor of elected officials visiting the swing state of Pennsylvania, his home state.