Cancels meeting

Obama cancels meeting with Philippine president following obscene warning

By Cristiano Lima

President Barack Obama will no longer meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, the White House announced Monday, after Duterte's expletive-filled rant directed at the commander-in-chief raised eyebrows worldwide.

“President Obama will not be holding a bilateral meeting with President Duterte of the Philippines this afternoon,” National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

Duterte had warned Obama not to ask him about the more than 2,000 extrajudicial killings reported in his country Monday, threatening: “Son of a bitch, I will swear at you in that forum.”

Earlier Monday in China, Obama said he had instructed his aides to assess whether the planned meeting with Duterte, scheduled for Tuesday at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, would still be productive.

"Clearly, he's a colorful guy," Obama said, prior to the cancellation.

The President will instead meet with President Park of the Republic of Korea this afternoon.