CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has praised U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump, saying that his inflammatory statements from the campaign trail do not necessarily reflect the actions he will take as president.
El-Sissi, in an interview with Portuguese news agency LUSA released on Saturday, said, “let’s not jump into conclusions or worry” about future U.S. actions or policies in the Middle East. The army chief-turned-president was interviewed prior to his upcoming Nov. 21 visit to Portugal.
El-Sissi was among the very first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump’s on his presidential victory.
“We have to distinguish between the rhetoric that takes place within presidential campaigns and the real and actual administration of a country after the inauguration,” he said. “There will be a chance for more thorough readings.”
El-Sissi’s remarks echoed sentiments that have been circulating on local and regional media, with columnists speculating that Trump campaign rhetoric — such as his call for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. — will be watered down.
Trump and el-Sissi have already shown a certain bond. Trump said there was “good chemistry” when they met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September. El-Sissi said Trump would “without a doubt” make a strong leader.
El-Sissi, who was elected in 2014 after leading the military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, has painted himself as a regional leader in the fight against Islamic militancy — a stance that echoes Trump’s priorities.
The prospect of warmer relations with Trump comes after years of relative chill between el-Sissi and outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama.
After the ouster of Morsi and the subsequent lethal crackdown on Islamist supporters, the Obama administration voiced criticism and briefly suspended part of the Egypt’s robust American aid package.
Egypt’s pro-government media have often railed against Obama, accusing the U.S. of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other dissident groups. Many of those pro-government media outlets are now cheering Trump’s victory.
Observers believe that Trump is less likely to take Egypt to task over human rights. Instead, he could offer el-Sissi international political support as the Egyptian leader battles Islamic State group-linked militants in the Sinai peninsula and in neighboring Libya.
“I believe that President Trump will be vigorously engaged with the issues in the region,” el-Sissi said. “As a matter of fact, Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and Egypt in particular. I am looking forward and expecting more support and reinforcement of our bilateral relations.”
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Pretty clear that Trump won’t put any conditions on crackdowns against “terrorists” in foreign relations. Assad will be a new best buddy.
Honestly, I do not know what our foreign policy should be in terms of diminishing the influence and international allure of Islamic terrorism. I don’t see how one can call Obama’s policy in this area a success.
On the other hand, going back 50 or 60 years, to the era when the US would support any strongman who was in agreement with our foreign policy aims, seems like a recipe for catastrophe.
I think that the Egyptian president’s statement got lost in translation from Arabic to Portugese to English. It’s apparrent that he meant:
“Just because (The Orange Wonder) took positions on issues as a candidate does not mean that he will have any of his own as President. He is a wealthy and powerful man. He can get the best opinions and the best words. And the world can rest assured that the policy advocated by the last man to advse him will be the one he will carry out. No worries.”
Welcome to the brave new world of “politically transmitted diseases.”
“As a regular Egyptian strongman kind of guy who killed 800 people in one day, I say, give Pres. Elect Shitgibbon a break. He’ll make a fine morally disengaged autocratic in no time. Just needs a little mentoring”
Concise and perfect summation.
This is the network of mutual support of Mafia bosses. Autocratic strongmen like Putin and others are all happy to cup each others’ balls until one of them gets in the way and is perceived to hurt the power of another one - then it is all out war.Note the new Philippine maniac has said nice things about Trump also.
Guess what - Axis of Evil is coming back and we made the team this time.
Dear Egyptian Military Dictator
We are not jumping to conclusions. Here in his fair City, we have had to live with Donald Trump and his over inflated ego in the celebrity news from the late 70s on. We know you do not listen to The Howard Stern Show in Egypt, but we have listened to his appearances there. We know of his lack of personal ethics, unlike you. We know who he is. You, on the other hand only know that he is a Right Winger, like yourself.