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Chinese President Xi Jinping is changing the country’s constitution to allow him to stay in power indefinitely. American President Donald Trump joked on Saturday he might do the same.
In closed-door remarks at his Mar-a-Lago golf club on Saturday, Trump praised the Chinese president’s recent power grab and said he wouldn’t mind trying it himself, according to CNN, which managed to obtain a recording. “He’s now president for life. President for life. No, he’s great,” Trump said. “And look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday.”
The remarks were delivered during a fundraising lunch and were probably a joke. That said, an American president jesting about staying in power for life obviously caused a bit of consternation — especially one who has a history of admiring dictators.
Dear @realDonaldTrump: One difference between you and China's Xi is that you took an oath to the Constitution of the United States. You should read it. https://t.co/yLTmlGsMXu
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 4, 2018
Either he’s losing it, or we’re losing it if we let him stay on after this.
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) March 4, 2018
How many hints do we need that he wants to be a dictator?
Trump on China's Xi consolidating power: 'Maybe we'll give that a shot some day' @CNNPolitics https://t.co/aQ1KXNT3gm
I have refrained from just being anti Trump. But whether this was a joke or not, talking about being President for life like Xi Jinping is the most unAmerican sentiment expressed by an American President. George Washington would roll over in his grave. https://t.co/y6ScZslUqe
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) March 4, 2018
Trump has a history of admiring dictators and strongmen
During a Monday afternoon meeting with US governors, Trump said he had “great respect” for Xi and a “very good relationship” with him. When asked about the White House’s reaction to the term limit issue in China, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday said it’s “a decision for China to make about what’s best for their country.” She said the president supports term limits in the United States but seemed to imply he is fine with what’s happening in China.
President Xi isn’t the only authoritarian figure Trump has complimented. He has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, for example, saying he gets an “A” in leadership and admiring his approval numbers in separate interviews in late 2015. He has also touted his “great friendship” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump has also been friendly with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in May 2017 telling him he was doing an “unbelievable job on the drug problem.” Duterte has killed thousands of people in his drug war. Axios reporter Jonathan Swan reported in February that Trump has expressed admiration for countries such as Singapore, where drug dealers get the death penalty, and wished he could do the same in the United States.
