'I am the Jesus Christ of politics': Controversial world leaders in their own words
Donald Trump's tweets pale in comparison to some leaders' boasts of murder and corruption
Whenever Donald Trump launches into a Twitter tirade he is accused of being "unpresidential".
The word conjures an offence against stately Victorian decorum - but some of the rhetoric recently traded on the world stage suggests that the concept may be lost on some statesmen and women.
Trump's status as "leader of the free world" might put in him in the spotlight, but he is far from alone in the pantheon of world leaders unafraid to say what they're really thinking.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In fact, Trump's rhetoric pales in comparison to some leaders' boasts of corruption, oppression and even murder:
Vladimir Putin
Style: Close-lipped former KGB man with a sense of humour so dry you might miss it entirely.
Most memorable quotes: "I am not a woman, so I don't have bad days."
"I find it hard to imagine that [Trump] ran to a hotel to meet with our girls 'of low social responsibility', although they are without question the best in the world."
Silvio Berlusconi
Style: Gaffe-prone Italian lothario with a penchant for ranking himself among the greats.
Most memorable quotes: "Mussolini never killed anyone, he just sent dissenters abroad for vacation."
"I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a patient victim, I sacrifice myself for everyone."
"Only Napoleon did more than I have done. But I am definitely taller."
"I'm leaving this sh**ty country, of which I'm sickened."
Rodrigo Duterte
Style: Tough-talking President of the Philippines, nicknamed The Punisher, whose unpredictable temper and aggressive rhetoric takes some beating.
Most memorable quotes:
"Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there is three million drug addicts. I'd be happy to slaughter them."
"I hate corruption… I'm not claiming to be clean. I also stole a lot, but it's all used up."
Charles Taylor
Style: Guerilla turned politician who leaned into his warlord past and subsequently served as President of Liberia until 2003. Currently serving a 50-year sentence for war crimes at HMP Frankland in County Durham.
Most memorable quote: "He killed my ma, he killed my pa, but I will vote for him." (1997 campaign slogan)
Ramzan Kadyrov
Style: Hardline Muslim ruler of Chechnya who has backed honour killings and urged men to stop their wives from using WhatsApp.
Most memorable quote: "Chechen society does not have this phenomenon called non-traditional sexual orientation."
Jose Mujica
Style: Plain-spoken former Uruguayan leader known as the 'pauper president' for his austere lifestyle.
Most memorable quote: [Allegedly on Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner] "This old hag is even worse than the cross-eyed man."
Mujica later denied that the comment, caught on microphone, was a reference to Kirchner.
Robert Mugabe
Style: The sole post-independence President of Zimbabwe, who was once applauded as a revolutionary but has since been reviled for his human rights abuses.
Most memorable quotes: "The only white man you can trust is a dead white man."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 28, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - airline safety, teleprompter gaffs, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 doom 'n' gloom cartoons about the mess we're in
Cartoons Artists take on long-term pessimism, dystopian fears, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Church of England's legacy of slavery
The Explainer Should the CofE offer financial redress for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade?
By The Week UK Published
-
Justices set to punt on Trump immunity case
Speed Read Conservative justices signaled support for Trump's protection from criminal charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Biden is smart to keep the border-security pressure on'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona grand jury indicts 18 in Trump fake elector plot
Speed Read The state charged Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies in 2020 election interference case
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Who will win the 2024 presidential election?
In Depth Election year is here. Who are pollsters and experts predicting to win the White House?
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
National Enquirer helped Trump in 2016, ex-boss says
Speed Read David Pecker says the tabloid published fabricated content to hurt Trump's rivals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sitting in judgment on Trump
Opinion Who'd want to be on this jury?
By Susan Caskie Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published