Trump Backpedals On ‘Nice And New And Smart!’ Strike: ‘Could Be Soon … Or Not!’

U.S. President Donald Trump conducts a meeting with state and local officials to unveil his administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan in the State Dining Room at the White House February 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. The $1.5 trillion plan to repair and rebuild the nation's crumbling highways, bridges, railroads, airports, seaports and water systems is funded with $200 million in federal money with the remaining 80 percent coming from state and local governments.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with state and local officials to unveil his administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan in the State Dining Room at the White ... WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with state and local officials to unveil his administration's long-awaited infrastructure plan in the State Dining Room at the White House February 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. The $1.5 trillion plan to repair and rebuild the nation's crumbling highways, bridges, railroads, airports, seaports and water systems is funded with $200 million in federal money with the remaining 80 percent coming from state and local governments. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

After implying that a “nice and new and smart!” missile attack on Syria was imminent on Wednesday, President Donald Trump walked back his warning to Russia about striking its ally for a suspected chemical attack.

“Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!” he tweeted early Thursday. “In any event, the United States, under my administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our ‘Thank you America?’”

The rectifying tweet comes after Trump received a swath of criticism on Wednesday for his early-morning warnings to Russia to “get ready” for a missile attack. Wednesday’s tweet was likely in response to reports that Russia planned to shoot down any missile launched at Syria and would target the launching area.

The U.S. has reportedly been quietly working with France and Britain to take retaliatory measures against Syria for a suspected chemical weapon attack that killed at least 40 people in a rebel-held town near Damascus over the weekend. Trump was criticized Wednesday not only for taunting Russia, but also for his hypocrisy in sharing major military operation intelligence on Twitter. Throughout his campaign, Trump criticized former President Barack Obama for announcing military strikes before they were carried out.

While Syria has denied it used chemical weapons against its own citizens, the United Nations health agency on Wednesday said that at least 500 patients in Damascus showed some signs of exposure to toxic chemicals.    

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. This moron wants to be his own chief of staff. How is that going to work. He can’t even manage his own comments on twitter.

    I have never seen a person, let alone a president, with less understanding of the power of silence. Twitter allows him to share every half thought that comes into his nearly empty head and he shares.

  2. Where is our “Thank you America?”

    
    
    Tiny Hands begs for finger love.
  3. I am sure the military was pleased that Spanky gave Syria and Russia a warning about an impending attack. It is the work of spies to get that kind of information and Spanky fits the bill.

  4. “Where is our ‘thank you America?’”

    Oh, it’s on the way.

    I have it down for November 6.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

62 more replies

Participants

Avatar for silas1898 Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for sysprog Avatar for clemmers Avatar for theod Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for voreason Avatar for progress Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for stradivarius50t3 Avatar for maxaroo Avatar for dickweed Avatar for pabodie Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for gailefranz Avatar for reggid Avatar for rickjones Avatar for ohcomeonnow Avatar for greenman66 Avatar for atldrew Avatar for anne53 Avatar for rascal_crone

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: