President Donald Trump today announced the death of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi following a raid by US Special Forces during a freewheeling speech that at one point saw him refer to Osama Bin Laden and his son as 'tall and handsome'.
The at times rambling speech detailed the two-week operation that resulted in the raid and eventual death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi after he ignited a suicide vest, killing himself and three children as he attempted to flee his Syrian safe-house via an escape tunnel.
Speaking of the death Trump said:
He died like a dog. He died like a coward. The world is now a much safer place. God bless America.
One moment during the announcement that raised eyebrows around the world was Trump's remarks about al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden and his son Hamza Bin Laden, with the president making a point to refer to them both as 'tall and handsome.' Yes, really.
The odd comments came as Trump also appeared to suggest that he predicted the 9/11 terror attacks and was aware of the danger of Bin Laden long before he was on others radars.
I don’t get any credit for this, but that’s okay, I never do. But here we are. I wrote a book, a really very successful book, and in that book about a year before the World Trade Center was blown up, I said there is somebody named Osama bin Laden, you better kill him or take him out, something to that effect, he is big trouble… I saw this man, tall, handsome, very charismatic, making horrible statements about wanting to destroy our country.
He also used the same words when talking about Hamza Bin Laden saying he was 'tall and handsome, like his father.'
The comments did not go unnoticed on social media with many immediately taking to Twitter to express disbelief and mockery towards the president's words.
What does Bin Laden’s son being “tall & handsome” have to do with anything? Was Trump attracted to him?… https://t.co/9zKMxQAXdh— Rashan Reeves (@Rashan Reeves) 1572185121
#TrumpPresser Donald Trump: We took out Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi Press: good a sim.. Donald Trump: thanks Russia! O… https://t.co/9uThAmgVTv— Nathan Platt (@Nathan Platt) 1572186627
Did Trump just say that Osama Bin Laden’s son was “very much like his father, a good looking man”.— Chris Wall (@Chris Wall) 1572185991
@cmclymer He could have stopped 9/11 if we listened to him about tall, handsome Bin Laden.— pinko, heavy metal weirdo (@pinko, heavy metal weirdo) 1572187916
Donald Trump says Osama Bin Laden’s son is tall and handsome. https://t.co/aKHtlsBf3o— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1572185021
“I want Baghdadi that’s who I want I do not want other people, I want Hamza (Bin Laden)...tall handsome like his father...” #Trump— Sam Dagher (@Sam Dagher) 1572185081
Didn't realize President Chump had such a "man crush" on Bin Laden and his son. He really emphasised on how tall an… https://t.co/1JrCDp60X9— Robin P.🐝🌻🌳🦄🐶🐱 (@Robin P.🐝🌻🌳🦄🐶🐱) 1572185801
Did I just watch the President of the United States call Hamza bin Laden tall and handsome?— ? (@?) 1572184979