Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview Sunday defended President Trump's decision to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, who has been accused of ordering the killing of political rivals and rules a country with one of the worst human rights records on earth.
"You know, you've got to be honest about what it means to lead a country, it means killing people," remarked Carlson, in a phone-in with Fox and Friends Sunday morning.
Carlson, one of the most vocal media allies of the president, accompanied Trump to the Demilitarized Zone separating North Korea and South Korea, the venue of Trump and Kim's historic meeting on Sunday
In the interview, Carlson shrugged off killing as part of the job for a political leader.
"There's no defending the North Korean regime, it's the last real Stalinist regime in the world," Carlson said. "It's a disgusting place obviously, so there's no defending it."
"On the other hand, you know, you've got to be honest about what it means to lead a country, it means killing people.
"Not on the scale the North Koreans do, but a lot of countries commit atrocities, including a number that we're closely allied with," Carlson added.
"I'm not a relativist or anything but it's important to be honest about that."
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In recent weeks, Carlson has predominated in a battle for influence over the president. He reportedly played an important role in helping to persuade the president not to engage in a direct military conflict with Iran.
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