Rodrigo Duterte calls Hitler ‘insane’ at Holocaust memorial in Israel, two years after comparing himself to the dictator
The remarks in Israel were a dramatic turnaround for the Philippine president, who two years ago had compared himself to Hitler and his anti-drug campaign to the Holocaust
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who once compared himself to Hitler, paid a solemn visit to Israel’s national Holocaust memorial on Monday, branding the Nazi leader “insane” as he lamented the Nazi genocide of an estimated 6 million Jews.
The comments marked a dramatic turnaround for Duterte, who just two years ago had compared his anti-drug campaign to the Holocaust and said he would be “happy to slaughter” 3 million addicts. He later apologised.
Duterte, known for his profane outbursts and accused of committing widespread human rights abuses, spoke quietly and respectfully during his stop at the Yad Vashem memorial.
He said the Holocaust should never be repeated and that “despots” have no place in the modern world.
“I could not imagine a country obeying an insane leader, and I could not ever fathom the spectacle of the human being going into a killing spree, murdering old men, women and children. I hope this will not happen again,” he said.