President Donald Trump shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the Oval Office of the White House on April 3. | AP Photo Trump: 'We are very much behind' Egypt's el-Sisi

President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. is “very much behind” Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the controversial military ruler accused of human rights abuses and often described as a tyrant.

In brief remarks in the Oval Office on Monday during the leader’s first visit to Washington, Trump praised Sisi and referenced their first meeting, during the 2016 presidential campaign, describing him as “somebody that’s been very close to me from the first time I met him.”


“We agree on so many things,” Trump said. “I just want to let everybody know, in case there was any doubt, that we are very much behind President el-Sisi. He’s done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation. We are very much behind Egypt and the people of Egypt, and the United States has, believe me, backing and we have strong backing.”

Sisi, in return, said to Trump through a translator: “I've had a deep appreciation and admiration of your unique personality, especially as you’re standing very strong in the counter-terrorism field.”

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Unlike Trump, former President Barack Obama declined to invite Sisi to visit the White House over his term in office. Sisi led the 2013 overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, and later ascended to the top of Egypt’s government. He has since been accused of employing repressive tactics, including jailing thousands of political opponents and protesters.

Trump did not mention those controversies in his public comments with Sisi before reporters on Monday.

Trump’s praise of Sisi and other autocratic leaders, like Russia’s Vladimir Putin, has concerned human rights advocates.