Fox News contributor laments that NBA superfan Kim Jong Un 'has to murder his people all day long'

Kim Jong Un.
(Image credit: ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images)

Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth made a disastrous attempt at sympathizing with Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, suggesting the North Korean dictator "probably doesn't love being the guy that has to murder his people all day long."

The quote came about as Hegseth was asked why Kim would agree to a meeting with President Trump. "He wants a picture with the American president," Hegseth said. "The sanctions are having massive effect there, there's no doubt … And I think there's probably a point at which the guy who wants to meet with Dennis Rodman and loves NBA basketball and loves Western pop culture, probably doesn't love being the guy that has to murder his people all day long. Probably wants normalization."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.