As the News Blender featured the President was expected to address the nation at 11 a.m. eastern time regarding the Iran airstrike. The statement did not begin until 11:28 a.m. eastern time. The Presser lasted until 11:38 a.m. eastern time, he took no questions.
Given the late start to the presser there are zero tweets so far. I suspect, as I’m sure you do, that this will change after he holds his Presidential Address.
For Tuesday the President tweeted just two more times following two earlier tweets, plus the 15 retweets.
Had a very good meeting with @kbsalsaud of Saudi Arabia. We discussed Trade, Military, Oil Prices, Security, and Stability in the Middle East!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2020
The U.S. learned of this meeting between Saudi Arabia Vice Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman, and President Trump via bin Salman’s Twitter feed.
Upon directives from HRH the Crown Prince, I had the pleasure of meeting with @RealDonaldTrump yesterday to deliver a message from the Crown Prince, and review aspects of our bilateral cooperation, including efforts to confront regional and international challenges. pic.twitter.com/q7uXlgSjx8
— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) January 7, 2020
We've asked the White House repeatedly why this meeting wasn't on Trump's public schedule and why no readout was offered. (Typically both would happen.) Still no response. https://t.co/5InNZiXFVV
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 7, 2020
After the WHCA issued its statement, Trump confirmed the meeting. https://t.co/ceIa1xHaY8
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 7, 2020
As the News Blender reported, here, and featured here, the President via tweet responded to the Iran airstrike.
All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2020
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 8, 2020
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 8, 2020
And as we suspected he has now retweeted one time.
LIVE: President @realDonaldTrump Addresses the Nation https://t.co/vRH9gVAD0N
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 8, 2020
Trump is speaking now, flanked by Pence, Pompeo, Esper and military leaders. "As long as I am president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Good morning," he begins.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Trump says Americans should be "extremely grateful and happy," because there were "no casualties" in the Iranian attack last night. "Only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Trump says "Iran appears to be standing down," and that's a good thing for everyone involved and for the world.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Trump calls Soleimani "the world's top terrorist." He outlines Soleimani's resume of killing. "In recent days he was planning new attacks on American targets, but we stopped him," he says, again providing no specifics.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Trump says "we continue to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression." In the meantime, he says, he'll impose additional punishing sanctions on the Iranian regime, which will remain until Iran changes its behavior. (He doesn't immediately specify the sanctions.)
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Trump said he's going to ask NATO to get "much more involved in the Middle East process." ?
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Trump called on the other countries that are part of the Iran deal to "break away" from its "remnants." He also said the US doesn't "need" oil from the Middle East. That's subjective, but it continues to get a lot of it from there. Barrels per month from the Persian Gulf: pic.twitter.com/IvKKC3wpzs
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Trump also keeps suggesting, with varying degrees of explicitness, that he is responsible for the US becoming the world's #1 energy producer. That happened in 2012, under Obama (whom he accuses of perpetrating a "war on American energy"), and has been the case every year since.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 8, 2020
Pres Trump reported that no Americans were harmed in last night's missile attack by the Iranian regime. "We suffered no casualties." Flanked by his national security team includingt the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pres said Iran appears to be "standing down." Called it "a good thing." pic.twitter.com/su89MveLJT
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 8, 2020
Pres says he is today going to ask @NATO "to become much more involved in the Middle East process." Also calls on Iran to end its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 8, 2020
Also this…
“Tolerited” pic.twitter.com/2oDBNibR6Y
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 8, 2020
For those who missed it, watch the Joint Chiefs faces when he mentions hypersonic weaponshttps://t.co/jiePNahTCv
— Angry Staffer (@AngrierWHStaff) January 8, 2020
It’s possible today the post is updated, as I’m continuing to recover from the plague. To all that have wished me a quick recovery. I thank you.
