The Emergency Committee for Israel has put out a new ad slamming Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for "kissing up to dictators."
The ad starts with a freeze-shot of Trump wearing his famous "Make America Great Again" hat, except the hat says "Trump Loves Dictators" instead.
Next, clips play of Trump saying that he "100 percent" agrees the world would be better off with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in power, defending the idea of Bashar al-Assad remaining in power in Syria because he would beat the alternative, and suggesting Vladimir Putin-led Russia "can be a positive force and an ally."
"How can Trump make America great when he's kissing up to anti-American dictators?" the ad asks.
In an appearance on Morning Joe in December, Trump sounded elated at Putin calling him "bright and talented."
"When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia," Trump said.
That led to an awkward moment:
"Well, also it’s a person who kills journalists, political opponents and invades countries," host Joe Scarborough said. "Obviously, that would be a concern, would it not?"
"He’s running his country, and at least he’s a leader, you know, unlike what we have in this country," Trump said.
"Again, he kills journalists that don’t agree with him," Scarborough said.
"Well, I think our country does plenty of killing also, Joe, so, you know," Trump said. "There’s a lot of stupidity going on in the world right now, Joe. Lot of killing going on, a lot of stupidity, and that’s the way it is. But you didn’t ask me the question. You asked me a different question, so that’s fine."
"I’m confused," Scarborough said. "You obviously condemn Vladimir Putin killing journalists and political opponents, right?"
Humorously, co-host Mika Brzezinski nodded her head imploringly while Scarborough asked that question, as if hoping that Trump would not hedge on the seemingly obvious answer.
"Oh, sure," Trump said. "Absolutely."