Donald Trump has heaped praise on Saddam Hussein amid Chilcot Report

Ben Morgan6 July 2016

Donald Trump has praised former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein’s ruthlessness, telling supporters he killed terrorists “so good”.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was speaking in North Carolina when he discussed the former Iraqi leader.

The billionaire tycoon said: “Saddam Hussein was a bad guy, right? But you know what he did well? He killed terrorists. He did that so good.”

Mr Trump added: “They didn’t read ‘em the rights ... They were a terrorist, it was over.”

He has previously said the world would be “100% better” if dictators like Hussein and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi were still in power.

Ruthless dictator: Saddam Hussein
Getty

Before the US-led invasion in 2003, Iraq was listed by the US as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Jake Sullivan, policy adviser for Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, said Mr Trump’s “praise for brutal strongmen seemingly knows no bounds”.

Donald Trump's most controversial comments

Mr Trump also attacked his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton over her use of private email while secretary of state, saying it put the “entire country in danger”, after the FBI decided not to recommend criminal charges against her.

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