Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed his admiration for President Donald Trump during a televised address on Tuesday.
During an address to members of the regional East African Legislative Assembly, Museveni, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, stated he loves Trump because of the latter's willingness to speak "frankly."
"American has got one of the best presidents ever," Museveni said. "Mr. Trump, I love Trump. I love Trump because he tells Africans frankly. I don't know if he's misquoted or whatever, but when he speaks, I like him because he speaks frankly."
America has got one of the best presidents ever. I love Trump. He speaks to Africans frankly. Africans need to solve their problems - Museveni #NTVNews pic.twitter.com/2LQcKg1qnb
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) January 23, 2018
The Ugandan leader's comments come two weeks after Trump was accused of referring to countries in Africa as "s–tholes" during an immigration meeting with bipartisan leaders at the White House.
The president's alleged comments caused a political uproar abroad. The African Union, which represents all 55 countries on the African continent, rebuked the president and demanded a retraction and apology, Business Insider reported. The President of the Republic of Ghana even took to Twitter to castigate Trump for his alleged comments, saying Ghana would not "accept such insults" even from "a friendly country."
"The language of @realDonaldTrump that the African continent, Haiti and El Salvador are "s–thole countries" is extremely unfortunate. We are certainly not a "s–thole country". We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful."
The language of @realDonaldTrump that the African continent, Haiti and El Salvador are 'shithole countries" is extremely unfortunate. We are certainly not a 'shithole country". We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful.
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) January 13, 2018
Trump has maintained his comments were "misrepresented" by Sen. Richard Durbin (D., Ill.) and others after the meeting.
Museveni also discussed the need for Africa to take a more individualistic approach to solving some of the problems that plague the continent.
"The third purpose for integration is strategic security. Donald Trump speaks to Africans frankly. Africans need to solve their problems. You can't survive if you are weak. It is the Africans' fault that they are weak. We are 12 times the size of India, but why are we not strong?" Museveni tweeted.
The third purpose for integration is strategic security. Donald Trump speaks to Africans frankly. Africans need to solve their problems. You can't survive if you are weak. It is the Africans' fault that they are weak. We are12 times the size of India, but why are we not strong?
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) January 23, 2018