面对国际社会的愤怒反应，美国总统川普的发言人表示，做出邀请菲律宾独裁总统杜特尔特以及其他东亚国家领导人访问白宫，是孤立朝鲜战略的组成部分。
白宫发言人斯派塞星期一说，“这是与该地区国家进行合作的机会，这些国家在外交和经济上孤立朝鲜方面可以发挥作用。坦率地讲，美国的利益，我国民众以及该地区民众的安全是川普总统最优先考虑的问题。”
上周末在电话交谈中，川普总统邀请泰国、新加坡和菲律宾领导人访问美国。但是邀请极具争议的杜特尔特来访却在国会山引发了震动，并激怒了全球的人权组织。
In the face of international outrage, U.S. President Donald Trump’s spokesman says the decision to invite authoritarian Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and other East Asian leaders to the White House is part of a strategy to isolate North Korea.
“It is an opportunity to work with countries in that region who can help play a role in diplomatically and economically isolating North Korea,” said White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday. “And frankly the national interests of the United States, the safety of our people and the safety of people in the region are the number one priorities of the president.”
In telephone conversations over the weekend, Trump invited the leaders of Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines to visit. But it was the invitation to the firebrand Duterte that touched off shock waves on Capitol Hill and infuriated the global human rights community.