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More evidence emerged over the weekend that President Donald Trump is governing based on what he watches on Fox News, and he may start another war because of it.
Late Sunday afternoon, Trump - seemingly out of the blue - issued an unambiguous warning to Iran on Twitter:
"If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!"
If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1558297534.0
Why would the president threaten a sovereign foreign power with total annihilation?
Because Fox News told him to, according to Matthew Gertz of Media Matters.
Trump tweeted nine minutes after Fox aired a segment with the chyron "U.S.-IRAN TENSIONS ESCALATE."
Folks, The president is threatening Iran because of a Fox News segment. Left, Fox, 4:16 pm Right, Trump, 4:25 pm https://t.co/h0lSFp2pn0— Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)1558299660.0
From the Iran segment: https://t.co/h6QXyw9PYm— Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)1558299971.0
Ten minutes prior, Trump wrote a combative tweet on immigration, once again claiming that the United States is at capacity.
"False reporting yesterday. “There are no plans to send migrants to Northern or Coastal Border facilities, including Florida.” @FoxNews Not by airplanes or any other way. Our Country is FULL, will not, and can not, take you in!"
False reporting yesterday. “There are no plans to send migrants to Northern or Coastal Border facilities, including… https://t.co/gJ4mJ2b6NV— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1558296923.0
Gertz noticed a pattern.
"That tracks with the last tweet, which he explicitly tagged to a Fox segment. Left, Fox, 4:06 pm Right, Trump, 4:16 pm."
That tracks with the last tweet, which he explicitly tagged to a Fox segment. Left, Fox, 4:06 pm Right, Trump, 4:1… https://t.co/sgHjosI40X— Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)1558299701.0
"Still going. Left, Fox, 4:28 pm Right, Trump, 5:15 pm."
That tracks with the last tweet, which he explicitly tagged to a Fox segment. Left, Fox, 4:06 pm Right, Trump, 4:1… https://t.co/sgHjosI40X— Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)1558299701.0
It happened again less than an hour later in the leadup to a town hall with South Bend Mayor and 2020 presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg (D).
Trump whined about Fox News hosting a Democratic candidate and Chris Wallace for saying a nice thing about Mayor Pete.
"Hard to believe that @FoxNews is wasting airtime on Mayor Pete, as Chris Wallace likes to call him. Fox is moving more and more to the losing (wrong) side in covering the Dems. They got dumped from the Democrats boring debates, and they just want in. They forgot the people who got them there. Chris Wallace said, 'I actually think, whether you like his opinions or not, that Mayor Pete has a lot of substance...fascinating biography.' Gee, he never speaks well of me - I like Mike Wallace better...and Alfred E. Newman will never be President!"
....who got them there. Chris Wallace said, “I actually think, whether you like his opinions or not, that Mayor Pet… https://t.co/PttOhpCfhC— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1558300550.0
This tweet came after Wallace appeared on air to preview the town hall.
Still going. Left, Fox, 4:28 pm Right, Trump, 5:15 pm https://t.co/QOYqAlpyvv— Matthew Gertz (@Matthew Gertz)1558300943.0
Yeah, disturbing. George Conway, husband to White House advisor Kellyanne Conway, summed it up perfectly.
"It cannot be stressed enough: Trump is an unwell man," he replied to Gertz.
It cannot be stressed enough: Trump is an unwell man. https://t.co/86fxiGg2EI— George Conway (@George Conway)1558304120.0
This is scary stuff.
@gtconway3d @TheDemCoalition Yes, Trump has a serious case of POS.— Turn Ky Blue (@Turn Ky Blue)1558319645.0
@gtconway3d Who's controlling who? If Fox News is dictating US foreign policy, does that mean Rupert Murdoch is de facto president?— Luke (@Luke)1558304197.0
@gtconway3d This has all become normal. It’s going to take a war for people to wake up. These are scary times.— Patti F (@Patti F)1558304655.0
@gtconway3d Isn't it something that the president of the United States "says" something along the lines of starting… https://t.co/67I3AyIArV— JustMe2012 (@JustMe2012)1558307159.0
How did we get here again?
@MattGertz He’s just so presidential.— WorldofWardcraft (@WorldofWardcraft)1558305840.0
@MattGertz ahh, the glorious feedback loop. ffs.— terence🇮🇪 (@terence🇮🇪)1558304364.0
@MattGertz FYI people: @realDonaldTrump gets his Intel briefing from @FoxNews— Stacy (@Stacy)1558349897.0
Does the president understand what he is up against in a war with Iran?
@gtconway3d Iran/Persia is an ancient nation with a reputation for cleverness & guile. Under Trump, the US is a 200 yr old brat with nukes.— Kevin McCaffrey (@Kevin McCaffrey)1558331709.0
@MattGertz Oh. My. God. WORD FOR WORD. WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO THIS F’ING WHITE HOUSE? I’m going to really ha… https://t.co/fbfzn38BPB— Sara (@Sara)1558306724.0
On Sunday, some wondered if or how Iran would respond.
@MattGertz Does @realDonaldTrump think Iran is following him on @Twitter #WTF I don’t even follow #Trump on #Twitter— Beverly was here ⬇️ (@Beverly was here ⬇️)1558309429.0
We got our answer Monday morning. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif responded to Trump, almost as if with a dare.
"Goaded by #B_Team, @realdonaldTrump hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do. Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. #EconomicTerrorism & genocidal taunts won't "end Iran". #NeverThreatenAnIranian. Try respect—it works!"
Goaded by #B_Team, @realdonaldTrump hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do. Irani… https://t.co/v4WqIJrlQO— Javad Zarif (@Javad Zarif)1558348027.0
.@realDonaldTrump rightly deplores "military-industrial complex" pushing U.S. to #ForeverWars But allowing #B_Team… https://t.co/8ur3LgdExh— Javad Zarif (@Javad Zarif)1558358141.0
For now, it looks like we are in a war of wits.
@JZarif @tparsi @realDonaldTrump Trump only wants Rhetoric & Pressure, but Bolton wants to carry it one step furthe… https://t.co/ejk7dV2eDm— Connecting the Dots (@Connecting the Dots)1558359381.0
Hopefully neither side blinks.