Ayon kay Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, walang karapatan si Midler na batikusin si Pangulong Duterte lalo’t wala naman siyang personal na kaalaman ukol sa pagkatao ng pangulo.
Malaya lamang aniya si Midler na magpahayag ng kaniyang saloobin sa kaniyang bansa.
Dapat aniyang itigil ni Midler ang pagpapahayag ng kaniyang mga komento na one-sided at judgment at huwag nang makialam sa panloob na usapin sa Pilipinas.
“She, however, has no right as she is incompetent and a gullible talking head as well, on matters concerning foreign leaders, she has no personal knowledge of. She should be circumspect as an influencer and should refrain from giving one-sided and judgmental comments on internal affairs of another sovereign state, especially if her references are false narratives coming from the political opposition and some biased media outlets whose agenda is to besmirch President Duterte and his administration before the global stage,” ani Panelo.
Pinayuhan pa ni Panelo si Midler na pagnilayan ang kaniyang sikat na kanta na “From a Distance” na nagtataguyod ng positibong pananaw sa buhay.