Donald Trump defends Vladimir Putin from allegations that he killed journalists

Trump had argued Friday on Morning Joe that Putin’s alleged tactics aren’t so different from what he sees happening in the U.S.

Trump called it “a great honor to be so nicely complimented”.

“When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia”, Trump said. Throughout the weekend, Trump continued to heap praise on Putin, even when confronted with reports that the Russian president kills reporters and dissenters in his country. “Obviously that would be a concern, would it not?” We have been running by incompetent people, incompetent politicians. But she just made this up in thin air.”“Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd pressed Trump on his rhetoric, asking him, ”If you knew your words were being used, would you change your language?” Trump dismissed the question.“No, because I think that my words represent toughness and strength. “And that’s the way it is”.

When asked to explain his statement that “our country does plenty of killing”, Trump took a jab at the leading Democratic presidential hopeful. Trump addressed the issue on ABCs “This Week” on Sunday.

McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, asserted that Mr. Putin has murdered “people I knew”, Buzzfeed reported.

“You’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, at least in our country”, Trump added. “He has not been proven that he’s killed reporters”. 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. “So this is a person who’s done some horrifying things on the global stage”, the Florida senator said on CBS’ “Face the Nation”.

SCOTT MORGAN/REUTERS GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed kind words for Putin.

“That’s not killing by the United States government though”.

Trump contrasted his potential friendship with Putin with Obama, whom he lamented has “never gotten along” with the Russian leader. “Wouldn’t it be nice if, like, Russian Federation and us could knock out an enemy together, not let us bear the full cost sometimes?” Not us bear the full cost, sometimes? “You know, we’re always fighting”.

He added: “If he has killed reporters, I think that’s awful”.

“Russia is making a lot of money with the deal, because they’re selling missiles and other military armaments to Iran and they’re making a fortune on it, because they’re smart”, Trump said. Trump has recently been defending some of the actions of the Russian leader.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 56 journalists have been killed in Russian Federation since 1992, including at least 23 since Putin took power in 2000. “That’s how you create a better relationship with Putin”.