Donald Trump praises Vladimir Putin after being asked about him killing journalists

During a Friday-morning interview with Donald Trump, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough was baffled by the Republican front-runner's embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Sure, when people call you 'brilliant' it's always good. Especially when the person heads up Russia," Trump told co-host Mika Brzezinski, when asked about Putin praising him as "very talented" the day before.

Scarborough pointed to Putin's status as a notorious strongman.

"Well, I mean, it's also a person who kills journalists, political opponents, and invades countries. Obviously that would be a concern, would it not?" Scarborough asked.

"He's running his country and at least he's a leader," Trump replied. "Unlike what we have in this country."

"But again: He kills journalists that don't agree with him," Scarborough said.

The Republican presidential front-runner said there was "a lot of killing going on" around the world and then suggested that Scarborough had asked him a different question.

"I think our country does plenty of killing, also, Joe, so, you know," Trump replied. "There's a lot of stupidity going in the world right now, Joe. A lot of killing going on. A lot of stupidity. And that's the way it is. But you didn't ask me [that] question, you asked me a different question. So that's fine."

Scarborough was left visibly stunned.

"I'm confused," the MSNBC host said. "So I mean, you obviously condemn Vladimir Putin killing journalists and political opponents, right?"

"Oh sure, absolutely," Trump said.

Later in the interview, the Republican businessman said Putin's poll numbers are a sign of his popularity. Putin's position the country is bolstered by the Russian government's control over much of the media.

"I always felt fine about Putin. I think that he's a strong leader. He's a powerful leader. … He's actually got a popularity within his country. They respect him as a leader."

Trump contrasted Putin's numbers with President Barack Obama's.

"I think he's up in the 80s. You see where Obama's in the 30s and low-40s. And he's up in the 80s," Trump said. "And I don't know who does the polls. Maybe he does the polls, but I think they're done by American companies, actually."