'I am the Jesus Christ of politics': Controversial world leaders in their own words
Donald Trump's tweets pale in comparison to some leaders' boasts of murder and corruption
Whenever Donald Trump launches into a Twitter tirade he is accused of being "unpresidential".
The word conjures an offence against stately Victorian decorum - but some of the rhetoric recently traded on the world stage suggests that the concept may be lost on some statesmen and women.
Trump's status as "leader of the free world" might put in him in the spotlight, but he is far from alone in the pantheon of world leaders unafraid to say what they're really thinking.
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.
In fact, Trump's rhetoric pales in comparison to some leaders' boasts of corruption, oppression and even murder:
Vladimir Putin
Style: Close-lipped former KGB man with a sense of humour so dry you might miss it entirely.
Most memorable quotes: "I am not a woman, so I don't have bad days."
"I find it hard to imagine that [Trump] ran to a hotel to meet with our girls 'of low social responsibility', although they are without question the best in the world."
Silvio Berlusconi
Style: Gaffe-prone Italian lothario with a penchant for ranking himself among the greats.
Most memorable quotes: "Mussolini never killed anyone, he just sent dissenters abroad for vacation."
"I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a patient victim, I sacrifice myself for everyone."
"Only Napoleon did more than I have done. But I am definitely taller."
"I'm leaving this sh**ty country, of which I'm sickened."
Rodrigo Duterte
Style: Tough-talking President of the Philippines, nicknamed The Punisher, whose unpredictable temper and aggressive rhetoric takes some beating.
Most memorable quotes:
"Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there is three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them."
"I hate corruption… I'm not claiming to be clean. I also stole a lot, but it's all used up."
Charles Taylor
Style: Guerilla turned politician who leaned into his warlord past and subsequently served as President of Liberia until 2003. Currently serving a 50-year sentence for war crimes at HMP Frankland in County Durham.
Most memorable quote: "He killed my ma, he killed my pa, but I will vote for him." (1997 campaign slogan)
Ramzan Kadyrov
Style: Hardline Muslim ruler of Chechnya who has backed honour killings and urged men to stop their wives from using WhatsApp.
Most memorable quote: "Chechen society does not have this phenomenon called non-traditional sexual orientation."
Jose Mujica
Style: Plain-spoken former Uruguayan leader known as the 'pauper president' for his austere lifestyle.
Most memorable quote: [Allegedly on Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner] "This old hag is even worse than the cross-eyed man."
Mujica later denied that the comment, caught on microphone, was a reference to Kirchner.
Robert Mugabe
Style: The sole post-independence President of Zimbabwe, who was once applauded as a revolutionary but has since been reviled for his human rights abuses.
Most memorable quotes: "The only white man you can trust is a dead white man."
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
-
'A stark choice'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Vietnamese migrants crossing the Channel
The Explainer 2024 has seen a surge in the numbers of Vietnamese migrants making the illegal passage into the UK
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
How to make the most of your leftover pumpkins
The Week Recommends As the Halloween fun wraps up, snap up pumpkins still on sale and don't leave your jack-o-lanterns to rot
By Tess Foley-Cox Published
-
How Harris and Trump differ on education
The Explainer Trump wants to disband the Department of Education. Harris wants to boost teacher pay.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How GOP election denial thrives in 2024
In the Spotlight Cleta Mitchell aided Donald Trump's efforts in 2020. She's back.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Life in the post-truth era
Opinion The mainstream media can't hold back a tsunami of misinformation
By Theunis Bates Published
-
'Shale is crucial to the US economy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published