Shunned Myanmar leader thrilled at US contact after Trump tariff letter

Min Aung Hlaing expresses ‘sincere appreciation’ for letter from US president threatening 40% tariff

>Myanmar’s military leader has praised [Donald Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump) and asked him to lift sanctions, as the junta sought to capitalise on a tariff letter from the US president believed to be Washington’s first public recognition of its rule.

>Min Aung Hlaing, who has been in power since a [2021 coup](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/19/myanmar-coup-2021-explained-in-30-seconds), expressed his “sincere appreciation” for Trump’s letter, which threatened a tariff of 40% on its goods, and commended the US president for his “strong leadership” and for guiding the US “toward national prosperity with the spirit of a true patriot”.

>US diplomats do not officially engage with Min Aung Hlaing or the ruling junta, which seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. It was among a tranche of almost identical letters sent by Trump to world leaders on Monday.

!ping Foreign-policy

We are being led by idiots