Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE defended comments he made this week praising Saddam Hussein for his ability to kill terrorists at a Wednesday rally.

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"Last night, I said, 'Bad guy, Saddam Hussein, bad guy,' then I said again, 'Saddam Hussein is a bad guy, but he did one thing well, he killed terrorists,'" the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said at a rally Wednesday in Ohio. "I wanted to emphasize, because I knew if I didn't emphasize, they'd say I like Saddam Hussein."

Trump bashed the media for focusing on his praise of Hussein and for ignoring other topics he talked about like trade, ObamaCare and the military.

"I wake up, I turn on the television ... 'Donald Trump loves Saddam Hussein. He loves Saddam Hussein,'" Trump said, imitating a news broadcaster. "I said, 'That's not what I said.'"

"I don't love Saddam Hussein, I hate Saddam Hussein," he continued. "But he was damn good at killing terrorists."