Donald Trump posted several tweets this morning that directly contradict national security intelligence on several major foreign policy matters, showing that he is doing actual damage to the country.
When Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday, he drew significant media attention by breaking with multiple points Trump has been trying to make in recent days, such as:
- Trump claims ISIS has been defeated in Syria, but Coats says the terror organization still commands “thousands†of guerrilla warfare fighters in Syria and Iraq.
- Trump says he’s making progress with North Korea as he heads towards another summit with Kim Jong Un, and yet, Coats says the rogue regime is “unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities.â€
North Korea unlikely to give up nuclear weapons: U.S. spy chief Coats https://t.co/hZrieEceSW via @politicususa
— PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) January 30, 2019
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There have been other points of divergence between Coats and Trump also, but the president does not seem to be aware of them.
So here’s what the president had to say today in his insane morning tweetstorm:
“When I became President, ISIS was out of control in Syria & running rampant. Since then tremendous progress made, especially over last 5 weeks. Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. Negotiating are proceeding well in Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting..
….Fighting continues but the people of Afghanistan want peace in this never ending war. We will soon see if talks will be successful? North Korea relationship is best it has ever been with U.S. No testing, getting remains, hostages returned. Decent chance of Denuclearization…
…Time will tell what will happen with North Korea, but at the end of the previous administration, relationship was horrendous and very bad things were about to happen. Now a whole different story. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un shortly. Progress being made-big difference!
When I became President, ISIS was out of control in Syria & running rampant. Since then tremendous progress made, especially over last 5 weeks. Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. Negotiating are proceeding well in Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
….Fighting continues but the people of Afghanistan want peace in this never ending war. We will soon see if talks will be successful? North Korea relationship is best it has ever been with U.S. No testing, getting remains, hostages returned. Decent chance of Denuclearization…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
…Time will tell what will happen with North Korea, but at the end of the previous administration, relationship was horrendous and very bad things were about to happen. Now a whole different story. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un shortly. Progress being made-big difference!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
Note that Trump is contradicting himself as well his Director of National Intelligence. In December, he declared victory over ISIS. Last year, he declared, “There is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea.â€
Trump also posted about the situation in Venezuela and told Americans to stay away from the country.
Then he tweeted an update on the border wall, telling members of Congress that if their negotiations on border security don’t include a wall, they can forget about it. This comes just after Trump temporarily ended his misguided government shutdown in U.S. history after failing to obtain any additional funding for his wall.
“If the committee of Republicans and Democrats now meeting on Border Security is not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!â€
If the committee of Republicans and Democrats now meeting on Border Security is not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
He also mentioned that there are more migrant caravans marching to invade America.
This morning’s tweets show that Donald Trump is still living in a reality of his own making. They also show that he has not given up on his futile attempts to persuade Congress to fund his border wall with Mexico.
Trump doesn’t even realize that the statements he tweets contradict himself and also contradict the official policies and positions of his own administration.
It is very clear that Donald Trump, through tweeting, is doing more harm than good. He should stop immediately and turn over foreign policy statements to the professionals in the American Intelligence Community.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
