Duterte hits back at Chelsea by reminding her of Dad'

Duterte hits back at Chelsea Clinton by reminding her of Dad’s lewinksy affair and he is right

Duterte hits back at Chelsea Clinton by reminding her of Dad’s Lewinksy affair

Davao, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte, never one to shy away from controversy, marked the 119th anniversary of the Philippine Navy with a verbal broadside aimed directly at Chelsea Clinton. In true Duterte fashion, he countered Clinton’s criticism of his rape remarks with a provocative retort: “When your father, the president of the United States, was screwing Lewinsky and the girls there in the White House, how did you feel? Did you slam your father?”

The exchange erupted after Clinton criticized Duterte’s offhand remark that he would take responsibility if soldiers under martial law “raped three women.” His comments drew international ire, but the reaction was far more tempered in his home base of Davao. Here, Duterte’s brash, unfiltered style is less scandal and more spectacle, a trademark of the leader who built a loyal following during his two-decade reign as the city’s mayor.

Locals, like 31-year-old Jane Enrile, brushed off the controversy. “He talks too much, yeah, and sometimes he offends people,” she said, sipping her drink after the speech. “But he’s not anti-women. That’s not who he is.” Such sentiments are a testament to Duterte’s enduring popularity, bolstered by his unrelenting candour and his reputation for “getting things done.”

Despite the international uproar, Duterte’s approval ratings remain stellar. A March 2017 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey pegged his net satisfaction rating at a stunning +63. Seventy-five per cent of Filipinos expressed satisfaction with his performance, while only 12 per cent were dissatisfied. These figures speak volumes about the Filipino public’s tolerance—or perhaps even admiration—for a leader who speaks his mind, often with brutal honesty.

Duterte represents a shift in global politics where authenticity, even when it offends, is increasingly valued over polished but hollow rhetoric. His ability to push boundaries without losing public support is a masterclass in leveraging controversy. The message is clear: speak boldly, own the narrative, and connect with your base. If anything, Duterte’s political playbook could offer a lesson to others in the global spotlight—Trump included.