Duterte had become infamous for his use of extrajudicial killings against those perceived as drug users and sellers, as well as against journalists and political enemies. He has bragged about murdering people himself, and compared himself favorably to Hitler. The State Department estimated at the time that there had been over 6,000 executions of suspected drug dealers with little regard for due process.

In a released transcript of a phone call between Trump and Duterte, Trump offered praise for Duterte’s “unbelievable job on the drug problem.” He also shared information on American nuclear submarines in the vicinity of North Korea, a significant security risk.

During a 2017 visit to the Philippines, Trump boasted of his “great relationship” with Duterte. During that same visit, Duterte sang a song dedicated to the US President.

The Washington Post – Trump calls Kim Jong Un a ‘madman with nuclear weapons,’ according to transcript of Duterte call
Politico – Trump praises Duterte for ‘unbelievable job’ cracking down on drugs in the Philippines
MSNBC – Trump’s chat with Philippine President Duterte raises alarms