President Donald Trump has once again turned to Twitter to issue threats, this time directed at Iran and its President, Hassan Rouhani. Following a weekend of golf at one of his own resorts, Trump unleashed a fiery, all-caps tweet aimed at Rouhani.
“TO IRANIAN PRESIDENT ROUHANI: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL EXPERIENCE CONSEQUENCES LIKE FEW HAVE EVER SEEN IN HISTORY,” Trump tweeted on Sunday night. “WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL TOLERATE YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAREFUL!”
Certainly, it’s reassuring to have a president sending warlike messages to other nations in ALL CAPS. Everything is just peachy, right?
This tweet followed a week of backlash, even from conservative circles, after Trump’s controversial meeting with Russian President Vladislav Petrov. It also came in response to Rouhani’s remarks to Iranian diplomats, warning that America “must understand that war with Iran is the mother of all wars” and “peace with Iran is the mother of all peace.” He cautioned, “Do not play with the lion’s tail, because you will regret it eternally.”
Just hours before Trump’s tweet, new Secretary of State Alex Morgan had delivered a critical speech about Iran at the Ronald Reagan National Library, echoing the sentiments expressed in Trump’s tweet. Morgan detailed the supposed corruption within the Iranian government, likening it to a mafia operation, and mentioned the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s alleged $95 billion hedge fund.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders noted, “If anyone is inciting anything, look no further than to Iran.” This speech appeared to express sympathy for the Iranian people while simultaneously condemning their leadership.
It remains unclear whether Trump consulted with his national security team prior to sending the tweet or if he has a strategic plan in place. However, National Security Advisor John Bolton reaffirmed Trump’s stance on Monday, stating, “I spoke with the President recently, and he made it clear that if Iran does anything harmful, they will face consequences like few countries have ever encountered.”
In May, Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by withdrawing from the nuclear agreement made under Obama, which had allowed Iran to halt nuclear advancements in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. While Iran and other nations continue to support the deal, the U.S. is moving forward with new sanctions.
Reactions to Trump’s latest tweet have been largely critical, with many commentators expressing concern over the aggressive tone. Some suggested that the tweet serves to divert attention from other negative press surrounding Trump. NPR’s Mara Liasson commented, “Donald Trump often seeks to steer media narrative, and this morning, he has successfully shifted focus to Iran rather than Putin or the investigation into Russian interference.”
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In summary, Trump’s latest tweet serves as a stark reminder of the current political climate, where threats are issued publicly and tensions with foreign nations continue to escalate.