President Trump laughed when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called members of the press “spies” after being asked about human rights as the two leaders met at the ASEAN Summit in Manila on Monday.
Media were allowed in the room for a photo opportunity after Trump and Duterte had delivered opening remarks for their a bilateral meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Trump touted their “great relationship” and spoke briefly on the weather when the press attempted to ask Trump whether he had raised the issue of human rights with Duterte, whose brutal drug war crackdown has left thousands of alleged drug dealers and users dead. Duterte previously said he would tell Trump to “lay off” if asked about human rights.
Duterte quickly dismissed the question and chided the press.
“Whoa, whoa,” Duterte said. “This not a press statement. This is the bilateral meeting.”
He went on to say, “We will be discussing matters that are of interest to both the Philippines and … with you around, guys, you are the spies,” according to a press pool report in which the journalists present said was rendered with a “high level of confidence.”
Trump and Duterte having a laugh about how journalists are *spies” “Hah, hah, hah” pic.twitter.com/6DjpIZznRc
— Gabriel Snyder (@gabrielsnyder) November 13, 2017
“Hah, hah, hah,” Trump said while laughing, the pool report continued.
“You are,” Duterte added before the press were ushered out of the room. Duterte also hinted that there could be a press conference following their bilateral meeting.
Notably, the White House version of the leaders’ remarks to the press said the reporter’s question, which the press pool report stressed was about human rights, was “inaudible.”
Asked about the substance of their meeting, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said human rights “briefly came up in the context of the Philippines’ fight against illegal drugs.” She said the conversation was focused on the Islamic State, illegal drugs, and trade.
The Philippine government disagreed, saying, “the issue of human rights did not arise,” according to NBC News’ Peter Alexander.
Trump’s national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said recently when asked if Trump would broach the issue of human rights during his trip, that Trump does possess a “very strong” stance on the matter.
Duterte has not been so receptive to criticism in the past, calling former President Barack Obama a “son of a whore” after he condemned Duterte for killing people without due process.
Trump “does it quietly,” McMaster said. “What does it help to yell about these problems? The president has done quite a bit and will continue to do more.”
Trump’s relationship with the press is not so quiet. He constantly calls news outlets he views as biased or unfair “fake news.”
