Trump on Kim Jong Un: 'He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.'

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/Zack Ford)

President Trump expressed envy over the "attention" the people of North Korea give their leader, Kim Jong Un, during an impromptu interview with Fox & Friends on Friday morning. Over the past week, Trump has been criticized for his frequent, glowing praise of Kim, who is responsible for numerous crimes against humanity, telling host Steve Doocy on Friday: "He is the strong head [of state]. Don't let anyone think anything different."

Unprompted, Trump then added: "He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same."

Doocy did not press Trump on the remark. Kim notably executed his deputy premier of education for having "disrespectful posture," and ordered a general killed for falling asleep during a meeting. Watch Trump's startling comments below. Jeva Lange

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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.