THEY behave so similarly that you’d think US President Donald Trump and President Rodrigo Duterte regularly compare notes.
Despite their campaign speeches, they both did not expect to win. Insider reports say that towards the homestretch, Trump had trouble sleeping; only his son-in-law Jared Kushner could soothe him.
It’s claimed that Trump himself was surprised about winning. Much like Duterte who, upon knowing he won, cried before his parents’ grave and prayed for guidance.
They both caused a volatile mix between themselves and the media. Trump, though, began early, in his race for the Republican nomination; he even had run-ins with the political bigwigs of the Republican party.
Duterte began alienating the media the moment they started showing they were not awed by his victory, fame and glory. So, among his first moves was to shun private media and cloister himself with Davao media and government media.
But private media always find ways. This is not to say the ice has thawed; rather, that fortunately sooner than later, the new presidents have recognized the need for co-existence.
Even against their will, US media covered Trump’s campaigns without the latter spending a cent (until the homestretch, that is), as compared to the heavy spending of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The media covered him then and now, whether he or they liked it. He still hates their coverage and the stories they churn out, calling them in fact “the dirty media.” Yet, much as Trump or Duterte would wish it, observers
become suspicious when powers-that-be and media show an alignment of planets.
Especially if the president’s desired effect is to inflate his ego. Trump has been considered coming into office “with the biggest ego of any president in history.” Behaviors cited are his quick calling out of anyone who challenges his claims.
The targets could be experts in their own field citing real-life observations of his obnoxious behavior. Trump called US Federal judge James Robart “the so-called judge” after the latter temporarily halted the Muslim travel ban.
With matching fury, he tweeted “If something happens, blame him and (the) court system.”
Yet, childhood friends attest that Robart is relatively apolitical, neither a conservative nor a liberal… just a man interested in the law and fairness.”
In acting out his fury, Trump only pretended at “papal-type infallibility,” simply because humility is clearly not one of Trump’s virtues.
Duterte stated he did not like criticism, and then realizing he had spoken too soon, qualified the dislike by saying it was okay to criticize him when he was Davao City mayor, but not now when he is president. Where did that logic come from?
Leaders worth their position must know that any nation, to remain free, must have a free press. It may not be explicitly stated in their job description, but journalists are duty-bound to hold the powerful accountable.
Fawning over a country’s leader should never be the default.