Ex-Trump advisor bashes his 'typically incoherent' flip-flop on Iran
Donald Trump’s former national security adviser was as baffled as many of the president’s conservative supporters were after the president changed course on pressuring Iran and supporting protesters based entirely on a dubious Fox News report.
On Tuesday, the president went on a saber-rattling jag by writing on Truth Social, “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price.”
On Thursday, after Fox News reported that a planned execution in Iran had been called off, the president struck an conciliatory tone, and wrote, “FoxNews: ‘Iranian protester will no longer be sentenced to death after President Trump’s warnings. Likewise others.’ This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!”
That led Fox News personality Mark Levin to push back with, “There’s overwhelming evidence the Iranian regime’s slaughter has not ended. The tactics have changed. And we all know it. And when the world’s attention turns elsewhere, thousands in prisons will be executed after they’re tortured, and the others will be hunted down like wild animals. The door is closing on these courageous and beautiful people. So many of them young like our own children and grandchildren.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-Sc) was a bit more pointed in his criticism of Trump despite their close relationship, writing on X: “All the headlines like these are examples of reporting that are beyond inaccurate. The circumstances around the necessary, decisive action to be taken against the evil Iranian regime have nothing to do with President Trump’s will or determination. Nothing could be further from the truth. Quite the opposite. Stay tuned.”
Appearing on MS NOW, former Trump advisor John Bolton took his criticism a step further by telling host Ana Cabrera, “Well, I think it's evolving in a typically incoherent fashion.”
“You know, the chronology doesn't support Trump's view here,” he observed. “He was saying a few days ago that Iranian patriots should keep protesting, take over your institutions he said, when in fact the main killing was over the weekend, and the protests had largely subsided because the people were scared to death to leave their homes for what they might, what might face from the militia and other agents of the Iranian government. We don't really know what the situation is.”
Pointing out that communication is not good coming out of Iran, he added, “In any event, who cares what the regime in Tehran says. They lie quite regularly and it's just a mistake to say, ‘Well, they've said they're not killing anymore, So I guess things are all right.’”
“I don't know what the president's going to do,” he admitted. “I think we're missing a real opportunity here to help the opposition overthrow this regime. That may not be Trump's objective, but it should be.”
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