He will also meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow, ahead of which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has announced that the administration "is prepared to consider joint stability operations with Russia in Syria, including no-fly zones, cease-fire observers, and coordinated deliveries of humanitarian aid." This, as I have previously noted, is foolish for a number of reasons, not least of which is that Russia does not have the same objectives in Syria that the U.S. does. Or used to.
Today, though, Trump is in Poland, where he met with Polish President Andrzej Duda, and delivered a major speech during which he declared
that "the West will never be broken" and vowed to win the battle against Islamist extremism.It was a disturbing speech, juxtaposing a history lesson about the Nazis and Soviets invading Poland with thinly-veiled white supremacist and Christian supremacist rhetoric.
Speaking in Warsaw on Thursday, Trump said "our people will thrive and our civilization will triumph."
"The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive. Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?"
Trump threw in an odd ad-lib accompanied by a weird grin about the WWII invasions of Poland: "That's trouble. That's tough."
The crowd certainly knew what to expect, and Trump delivered.
Unless I am mistaken - that is a Confederate flag flying at Trump's reception in Poland.
— Elliott Lusztig (@ezlusztig) July 6, 2017
This is madness. pic.twitter.com/pKzn3kzJhs
In addition to his big speech, Trump appeared at a joint press conference with Duda, where he was asked (again) if he will say definitively that Russia interfered in the U.S. election, and he responded by launching an extended attack against President Obama.
Asked if he'll say definitively that Russia interfered in the election, Trump goes on an extended attack on Obama https://t.co/R4I7GHD1kR
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 6, 2017
Which was coupled with his usual dissembling:
"I think it was Russia and I think it could have been other people and other countries who interfered. It could well have been other people. It could have been a lot of people who interfered," Trump said.Trump also took some time out of the Polish press conference to continue his war on the press.
"I won't be specific, but I I think a lot of people interfere, it's been happening for a very long time. It's been happening for many years."
..."I think it was Russia, but I think it was people and or countries, and I see nothing wrong with that statement. Nobody really knows. Nobody really knows for sure."
Trump "jokes" about fake news w/ Poland's president: "Do you have that also?"
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) July 6, 2017
Poland's government has relentlessly attacked a free press.
And he spoke about North Korea, with his usual vague belligerence:
"I have some pretty severe things that we're thinking about," Trump told reporters about the possible U.S. response to North Korea...Trump also pretended for a fleeting moment like he isn't Putin's puppet, saying: "We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing activity in Ukraine and elsewhere," and calling on Moscow to "join the community of responsible nations." He also said Russia must stop its "support for hostile regimes, including Syria and Iran." Which might have meant more if his Secretary of State hadn't just said that the Trump administration is considering working with Russia in Syria.
North Korea test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile Tuesday, marking a significant step forward in its weapons program and an escalation of the nuclear standoff with the U.S.
"I think we'll just take a look at what happens over the coming weeks and months," Trump said ahead of his trip Friday to the G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. "It's a shame that they're behaving this way. Something will have to be done."
Finally, there was this:
Trump: "I love beautiful rooms." pic.twitter.com/Ns6N3tAWEM
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 6, 2017
Sure.
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