He didn't praise them. He said they were smart.
I've said Ted Bundy was smart but I'm certainly not praising him.
Most people who manage to be in power and control people with an iron fist ARE smart. Xi, Putin, Hitler, etc. They’re not stupid people. They’re smart, evil people. Smart is often confused with “wise”. Big difference. Smart just means a brain that thinks at a higher level than most. Hopefully it’s controlled by a good spirit, which would then be wisdom.
One exception is the prancing buffoon we have up here....he’s crooked and cunning and evil, but he’s also not very bright.
Call it expression of admiration. I'm tired of him expressing admiration of dictators and hope he stops that.