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Scandalous Insults by World Leaders That Shocked the Public

© REUTERS / David Becker/Nancy Wiechec/FilesDemocratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (L) and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are seen in a combination of file photos
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (L) and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are seen in a combination of file photos - Sputnik International
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte managed to shock the world and grab media attention twice this month. He called Barack Obama “son of a wh**e”, however; he then later denied it. Sputnik takes a look at the shocking insults politicians have used against their colleagues in recent times.

US President Barack Obama attends the East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos September 8, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Rodrigo Duterte

After the row over the insult to Obama subsided somewhat, Duterte switched to the UN secretary-general, calling him a “fool.”

Perhaps Duterte, who became president this year, may not have yet learned how to handle his foreign colleagues with exquisite diplomatic tact. Nevertheless, many of his colleagues are known to be quite blunt as well.

© AFP 2023 / BAY ISMOYOPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) waves next to Indonesian President Joko Widodo (lower R) during a visit to Tanah Abang market in Jakarta
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) waves next to Indonesian President Joko Widodo (lower R) during a visit to Tanah Abang market in Jakarta - Sputnik International
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (C) waves next to Indonesian President Joko Widodo (lower R) during a visit to Tanah Abang market in Jakarta

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

Both the current US presidential candidates are known to have called each other various mean nicknames throughout the presidential campaign.

Trump has called Clinton “Crooked Hillary” and “rotten”. Clinton on the other hand labeled Donald Trump the “donkey of the decade” in an interview with a popular hip-hop radio show in New York. She also called him “dangerous” and “racist”.

© REUTERS / Aaron P. BernsteinDemocratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at Johnstown Wire Technologies in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, July 30, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at Johnstown Wire Technologies in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, July 30, 2016. - Sputnik International
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at Johnstown Wire Technologies in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, July 30, 2016.

Only a couple of months are left until the US presidential elections take place, hopefully the two candidates save their most scandalous nicknames and all the drama following it for later.

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British Head of Foreign Office, Boris Johnson

Former Mayor of London and now the head of the Foreign Office has repeatedly been the center of verbal scandals but his comments about Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are the cherry on top.

“If somebody wants to make a joke about the love that blossoms between the Turkish president and a goat, they should be able to do so, in any European country, including Turkey,” Johnson told interviewer Nicholas Farrell as a rebuff to the president’s efforts to prosecute a German comedian for an offensive poem against Erdogan.

Johnson then offered this verse: “There was a young fellow from Ankara, Who was a terrific wankerer. Till he sowed his wild oats, With the help of a goat, But he didn’t even stop to thankera.”

Boris Johnson won a £1,000 prize for the rude poem about the Turkish president sending media into frenzy over it.

© AFP 2023 / SCOTT HEPPELLFormer London Mayor, and "Vote Leave" campaigner, Boris Johnson is pictured with a pint of beer ahead of meeting with members of the public and supporters in Piercebridge, near Darlington, north-east England. (File)
Former London Mayor, and Vote Leave campaigner, Boris Johnson is pictured with a pint of beer ahead of meeting with members of the public and supporters in Piercebridge, near Darlington, north-east England. (File) - Sputnik International
Former London Mayor, and "Vote Leave" campaigner, Boris Johnson is pictured with a pint of beer ahead of meeting with members of the public and supporters in Piercebridge, near Darlington, north-east England. (File)

US Senator John McCain

Republican Senator John McCain, known for his “hawkish” habits, actively criticizes not only Russia, but also the administration of his own president.

In particular, he criticized the press secretary of the White House Josh Earnest, whom he called an “idiot” after Ernest made a statement about a terrorist capturing the city of Ramadi in Iraq.

Earnest said that the US should not “light hair on fire every time there is a setback in the campaign against Daesh.”

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens as Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham speaks defending McCain's military record during a town hall meeting at the 3 West Club to launch Graham's “No Nukes for Iran” tour Monday, July 20, 2015, in New York - Sputnik International
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Following this statement, McCain erupted on the Senate floor, directing most of his fury during a 13 minute speech berating the Obama administration's strategy in the region at Earnest.

“How could anyone, how could anyone say that we shouldn't light our hair on fire when news reports clearly indicate that there are burning bodies in the streets of Ramadi' and ISIS fighters 'are going from house to house, seeking out people and executing them,” McCain said.

© AP Photo / J. Scott ApplewhiteSenate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., leaves a closed-door GOP policy luncheon at the Capitol in Washington
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., leaves a closed-door GOP policy luncheon at the Capitol in Washington - Sputnik International
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., leaves a closed-door GOP policy luncheon at the Capitol in Washington

Arsen Avakov and Mikhail Saakashvili

Chaos broke out at a Ukrainian government meeting after the interior minister threw water in the face of Mikhail Saakashvili, former president of Georgia and now governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region.

There was even a video of the clash published all over the Internet which then turned into a meme.

Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook that Saakashvili had been “hysterical” during the meeting of the National Reform Council, and was screaming insults at him. “I refrained from hitting him, and just threw water in his face,” the minister wrote.

He actually threw a glass of water!

© Photo : Youtube/AtaI3eKUkrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avako and governor of Odessa Region Mikheil Saakashvili
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avako and governor of Odessa Region Mikheil Saakashvili - Sputnik International
Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avako and governor of Odessa Region Mikheil Saakashvili

Former President of Uruguay Jose Mujica

Without knowing that his microphone was on, Mujica was caught on Uruguayan radio allegedly speaking about the Argentine president and her late husband Nestor Kirchner: “This old hag is worse than the one-eyed guy.”

The reference to former president Nestor Kirchner was apparently because of a lazy eye which earned him the nickname El Tuerto – the one-eyed one.

Back then Mujica simply denied it and said that the comment was not about Cristina Kirchner.

However, in May this year, long after leaving the presidential post Mujica made another shocking comment this time about the current leader of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro.

Mujica called him “crazy as a goat.”

He added that he has a lot of respect for the Venezuelan president, but “that does not mean that I can't say he is crazy, crazy as a goat.”

“They are all crazy in Venezuela. They talk about everything and fix nothing,” Mr Mujica told local broadcaster Canal 10 on May 20, 2016.

© AP Photo / Nelson AntoineUruguay's former President Jose Mujica addresses the Central Workers Union annual convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (File)
Uruguay's former President Jose Mujica addresses the Central Workers Union annual convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (File) - Sputnik International
Uruguay's former President Jose Mujica addresses the Central Workers Union annual convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (File)
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