Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte says he might not meet with Trump after all because he's too busy

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Phillipenes president Rodrigo Duterte.
(Image credit: NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)

President Trump came under heavy criticism when he invited controversial Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte to the White House during a phone conversation Sunday. Duterte, who promotes the extrajudicial killings of accused drug-related criminals, has famously claimed "I don't care about human rights" and told former President Barack Obama to "go to hell."

"I cannot make any definite promise," Duterte said Monday, claiming he was "tied up." "I'm supposed to go to Russia, I'm supposed to go to Israel."

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Jeva Lange
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.