Political Odds: Which Controversial Leader Will Trump Meet Next?

When Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte called for the extrajudicial killings of drug dealers and drug users, it was met with condemnation from human-rights groups and world leaders across the globe. But there is at least one world leader who supports him, and he happens to be the “leader of the free world.”

In a recent phone call, Donald Trump had what he describes as  “a very friendly conversation” with Duterte and even invited him over to the White House. If Duterte takes him up on his offer, he’ll join an exclusive list of world leaders who have met with the 45th president.

Duterte should be prepared to feature on Trump’s blooper reel, though. The president’s meetings with other world leaders have been riddled with awkward moments.

For example, Trump claimed that if he ever met with Chinese president Xi Jinping, he would feed him a Big Mac and label China a currency manipulator. But when the two met, they discussed Syria and North Korea, and President Xi was treated to “the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you have ever seen.”

When he met with Shinzo Abe, the Japanese President was forced to endure a cringe-inducing 19-second handshake that more closely resembled a game of tug-of-war.

Then, when Trump met with Angela Merkel, he ignored her invitation to shake hands altogether.

Who else will Donald Trump meet with this year? Here are the odds for some controversial world leaders Trump could meet with one-on-one in 2017.

Odds Trump meets the following world leaders 1-on-1 in 2017

Rodrigo Duterte (Philippines): 1/1

The two leaders are set to meet at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering in November, but will Duterte take Trump up on his offer to visit the White House?

The two see eye-to-eye on many issues, and this is Duterte’s chance to rekindle his relationship with the U.S (he previously called Obama a “son of a whore”). It’s pretty likely we’ll see the two strongmen try to out-alpha each other in a handshake battle.

Vladimir Putin (Russia): 50/1

Trump has spoken glowingly of Vladimir Putin in the past, but with all the allegations of collusion between his campaign/administration and the Kremlin, a meeting with the Russian president looks pretty unlikely at the moment.

The two have some serious issues to sort out, though. Like where they both stand on Syria. Speaking of Syria …

Bashar al-Assad (Syria): 250/1

Initially, Trump did not want to remove the controversial Syrian president from power, but his attitude “changed very much” after a chemical weapons attack was attributed to the Syrian government. He responded by ordering a missile strike on a Syrian airbase but has remained quiet on the issue since.

With relations soured, a White House meeting is not in the cards.

Kim Jong-Un (North Korea): 500/1

I think we can write this one off on the spot.

With the threat of nuclear war looming, I don’t think the two world leaders will be meeting for a nice steak dinner anytime soon.

Odds Trump gets a world leader’s name wrong in 2017: 1/1

O/U on duration of Trump’s handshake with next world leader: 5 seconds