Is Trump's Dictator Envy Fueling Economy—or Repression?
Long before President Donald Trump praised Kim Jong Un as the “very talented” and “strong head” of North Korea, his lovefest with Asia’s authoritarian leaders was in full swing.
Last fall, the president invited to the White House Malaysia’s then–prime minister, Najib Razak, known for jailing opponents, muzzling the media and allegedly running a kleptocracy. A few weeks later, he welcomed General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who toppled Thailand’s democratically elected government in 2014. Soon after, Trump visited Manila, where he touted his “great relationship” with Rodrigo Duterte, ignoring questions about the Philippine leader’s dismal human rights record.
Trump’s open admiration of anti-democratic strongmen breaks with decades of diplomatic precedent and comes at a time when the administration is challenging traditional economic and military alliances; he has launched a trade war against allies in Western Europe, as well as Mexico
