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And that he's able to do things that the department of defense and all of the intelligence agencies and all of the advisers around him can't. so those are the two drivers of this. one, it's a characteristic of the job. and two, there's something peculiar about donald trump and the way he deals with advice which he doesn't seem to take very well. >> let me play you gentlemen both the sound bite of the president yesterday speaking about warmbier. >> i'm in such a horrible position. because in one way i have to negotiate. and the other way i love mr. and mrs. warmbier and i love otto. and it's a ...

Reprehensible leaders, of which unfortunately there are quite a few, and at the same time not saying things that cause a domestic political uprising that damages support for his foreign policy. >> but gary, doesn't that also possibly embolden other authoritarian leaders to continue carrying out these attacks, knowing that hey, you know what, this president doesn't seem to care if i do this or hurt this, hurt this american or hurt this dissident or what have you? >> well, as i say, i think if you avoid vindicating them, if you avoid excusing them, then that will reduce to some extent the likeli...

Kim jong un he failed to do so. joining me to break this down, gary semor, senior fellow with the korea project and senior executive director of the crown center for middle east studies. and steve clemons, editor at large at "the atlantic." steve, let me begin with you if i may. why do you think that donald trump seems to give these authoritarian, in some cases dictatorial leaders, a pass on some of the more basic issues where his own intelligence community says otherwise? >> well, two quick pieces to it. i think first every president thinks that they can bend or move the character of leaders ...