Although Trump acknowledged Saddam was 'a bad guy', he praised him for his efficiency in killing terrorists saying the current Iraq is a 'Harvard for terrorism'. He also said it was better to keep dictators in power in the Middle East.
"He was a bad guy -- really bad guy. But you know what? He did well? He killed terrorists. He did that so good. They didn't read them the rights. They didn't talk.
'They were terrorists. Over. Today, Iraq is Harvard for terrorism," Trump said on Tuesday during a rally where he was introduced by Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Hillary Clinton has responded to Trump's comments.
"Trump's praise for brutal strongmen seemingly knows no bounds."
"Trump yet again lauded Saddam Hussein as a great killer of terrorists, noting with approval that he never bothered to read anyone their rights," Jake Sullivan, senior campaign adviser of Hillary Clinton said in a statement, after noting Trump has also praised North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
"In reality, Hussein's regime was a sponsor of terrorism -- one that paid families of suicide bombers who attacked Israelis, among other crimes," he said.
"Trump's cavalier compliments for brutal dictators, and the twisted lessons he seems to have learned from their history, again demonstrate how dangerous he would be as commander-in-chief and how unworthy he is of the office he seeks."
Source: CNN