Tim Kaine: Donald Trump's 'personal Mount Rushmore' features Vladimir Putin, Saddam Hussein
After making a few groan-worthy Apprentice-related jokes earlier in the vice-presidential debate, Tim Kaine redeemed himself with a sassy burn against Donald Trump and his admiration for certain foreign leaders.
"He loves dictators," Kaine said. "He's got sort of a personal Mount Rushmore: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Moammar Gadhafi, and Saddam Hussein." Trump hasn't been quiet with his praise of Putin — in September, he said he has "been a leader far more than our president has been," and after Putin called him a "talented person" last year, Trump responded, "It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond."
Trump dubbed the North Korean leader a "maniac," but conceded it's "incredible" how Kim Jong Un was able to "take over and he's the boss," adding, "you've gotta give him credit." When it comes to Gadhafi, Trump reportedly made overtures to the Libyan dictator before he was ousted from power and killed in 2011; he allegedly tried to raise money from his regime, and rented his home in Bedford, New York, for Gadhafi to use while in the U.S. to visit the UN. He also managed to both compliment and diss Hussein during a rally in July, saying that while he was "a bad guy — really bad guy," he did do one thing well: "He killed terrorists. He did that so good. They didn't read them the rights. They didn't talk."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - political anxiety, jury sorting hat, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the Riveters
Speed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Outgunned Ukraine could fall, US general warns
Speed Read Without more US aid, Ukraine is at risk of losing the war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House GOP scuttles FISA vote at Trump's urging
Speed Read Right-wing lawmakers blocked Speaker Mike Johnson's surveillance bill
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published