Twitter Users Go Nuclear After 'Mad King' Trump Lifts North Korea-Linked Sanctions
President Donald Trump’s unexpected reversal of day-old North Korea-linked sanctions set Twitter alight on Friday.
Trump faced criticism after he ordered the withdrawal of measures, reportedly against two Chinese shipping companies, that the Treasury Department had imposed just one day earlier.
It was announced today by the U.S. Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea. I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2019
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump “likes” North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and didn’t think the sanctions “will be necessary.”
But conservative commentator Bill Kristol, House intelligence committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg and former Attorney General Eric Holder were among the raft of high-profile figures to condemn the move:
The United States of America no longer has a foreign policy. https://t.co/SnMkzYadG6
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) March 22, 2019
in just 24 hours the secstate was surprised by Golan Heights tweet & now @realDonaldTrump has lifted new Treasury sanctions vs NK b/c he likes Chairman Kim. There is not even the pretense of a national security process. Hard to imagine what would occur if there were a real crisis
— Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) March 22, 2019
Trump abruptly cancelled sanctions on those helping North Korea cheat, imposed only yesterday and championed by his own national security advisor, because he “loves” Kim.
Foolish naïveté is dangerous enough. Gross incompetence and disarray in the White House make it even worse. https://t.co/us088zg7fD— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) March 22, 2019
I always assumed that Bolton was too much of an ideologue to put up with this nonsense. I was wrong. https://t.co/ge7HgmW4NI
— Mark Leon Goldberg (@MarkLGoldberg) March 22, 2019
This is Trump overruling the Treasury Department—but it’s more importantly Trump overruling and publicly almost humiliating his national security adviser, John Bolton. https://t.co/je0gcroPe2
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) March 22, 2019
There is no question that Trump is being played by Kim Jong Un—one of the world’s most vicious dictators. Sidestepping his own Treasury Dept. and withdrawing sanctions against North Korea the same day they were announced defies logic. Congress must step in and pass the BRINK Act.
— Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) March 22, 2019
Trump cancels sanctions against North Korea because “he likes” the dictator who runs the country. Bizarre. History has shown that you never cozy up to tyrants. They only respect strength. See Europe 1930’s vs. allied front against Communism post World War. https://t.co/vKEFMRKWam
— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) March 22, 2019
Remember when Trump cancelled sanctions on North Korea because of how much he likes Kim Jong Un
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) March 22, 2019
The word "unprecedented" has been beaten into the ground, but this one really really is. Breathtaking move to undercut Mnuchin -- and side with genocidal dictator of rogue nuclear state -- while WH nervously awaits Mueller report, via @arappeport https://t.co/FhKC02surn
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) March 22, 2019
Quite apart from the chaos the NK reversal creates, the weakness it communicates to NK, the undermining of Mnuchin (and Bolton?), this kind of mad King foreign policy sends shockwaves through alliances and makes everyone think the US is run by an unfit leader. (We are.)
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) March 22, 2019
The NSC senior director for Korea is at a bar now, knocking back his 5th whiskey, thinking “I actually sought out this job.” https://t.co/Epei1cUBJ4
— Aki Peritz (@AkiPeritz) March 22, 2019
Foreign policy on a whim, changing daily. What could possibly go wrong?https://t.co/dDLWSv4InP
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) March 22, 2019
Think I’ll stay in the Carribean! Hurricanes seem safer than #Trump foreign policy!: “Trump reverses new North Korea sanctions one day after Treasury announced them” https://t.co/GBiYIdMjvb
— Maya Wiley (@mayawiley) March 22, 2019
it's just gonna turn out that Trump is trying to build a skyscraper in North Korea isn't it
— Tom Tomorrow (@tomtomorrow) March 22, 2019
— Kelly Magsamen (@kellymagsamen) March 22, 2019
Related...
Of Course Donald Trump Didn't Coin The North Korea 'Rocket Man' Nickname First
Tweeters Criticize CNN Over 'Propaganda' Piece On Kim Jong Un's Sister
Jimmy Kimmel 'Deals' Supercut Mocks Donald Trump's North Korea Walkaway
Also on HuffPost
Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
