‘Bigger lunatic than Bush’: Twitter reacts to Trump missile threat
President Donald Trump warned Russia to “get ready” for missile strikes on Syria, in an off-the-cuff response on Wednesday morning to an alleged chemical weapons attack by Syrian government forces.
The US leader tweeted: “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’ You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!”
The tweet provoked a flurry of reactions. Journalist Glenn Greenwald warned against a “dangerous and volatile” confrontation with Russia, and called those pushing Trump towards war “dangerous idiots.”
A nice, chilling reminder of how dangerous and volatile confrontation with Russia can be. This is why Obama - smartly - spent 8 years avoiding confrontation with Russia, including in Syria. And why those who have been demanding Trump be more belligerent are dangerous idiots. https://t.co/4JR3hXn8Ht
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) 11 апреля 2018 г.
Other journalists were less measured. Your Voice America’s Joey M. led his own all-caps pep rally on Twitter, calling Trump’s threat an example of “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
That's right! America will stand up to ANY Russian aggression. There is no being beholden to Russia over in this party. Check Hillary, but Trump is NOT beholden!
— Joey M. (YourVoice™ America) (@JTM_YVA) 11 апреля 2018 г.
THIS IS CALLED PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!
— Joey M. (YourVoice™ America) (@JTM_YVA) 11 апреля 2018 г.
Your Voice America co-host and Trump cheerleader Bill Mitchell was equally keen to show his support for the president:
Trump doesn't start wars. He is just smart enough to recognize wars that already exist and fight back.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) 11 апреля 2018 г.
British journalist and blogger Vanessa Beeley, who has covered the Syrian conflict intensively, was despondent that America seemed to be “taken to war by a bigger lunatic than Bush.”
America you are being taken to war by a bigger lunatic than Bush! https://t.co/yKjLc8qcvt
— vanessa beeley (@VanessaBeeley) 11 апреля 2018 г.
On the right, Fox News’ Tomi Lahren simply warned Trump to “Stay out of Syria.”
Stay out of Syria! https://t.co/73L8s7QfJP
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) 11 апреля 2018 г.
Let me get this straight: we’re going to bomb Syria because Assad attacked civilians, but next door in Yemen we are eagerly participating in a bombing campaign that has killed thousands of civilians?
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 11, 2018
Just days before the alleged chemical attack, Trump had teased about the possibility of a US withdrawal from Syria. During the previous administration, Trump had repeatedly warned President Barack Obama against intervening in the conflict, saying that “very bad things” would happen if he did.
AGAIN, TO OUR VERY FOOLISH LEADER, DO NOT ATTACK SYRIA - IF YOU DO MANY VERY BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN & FROM THAT FIGHT THE U.S. GETS NOTHING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 5 сентября 2013 г.
Indeed, many of Trump’s supporters admired the president for his “America First” stance against intervention in foreign conflicts. During his election campaign, Trump blasted Hillary Clinton for her eagerness to strike Syria, telling reporters in a 2016 interview:
"You’re going to end up in World War Three over Syria if we listen to Hillary Clinton. You’re not fighting Syria any more, you’re fighting Syria, Russia and Iran, alright? Russia is a nuclear country, but a country where the nukes work as opposed to other countries that talk."
Trump’s tweet on Wednesday morning, while not an official declaration of war, seems to represent a complete shift in attitude by the president, and one that many of his voters will remember in 2020:
Trump truly believes he is the movement, he doesn't have any sense that, as great as he was (and NO ONE could have did what the did in 2016), the movement exists beyond him. He rode the wave as much as made the wave. He'll see with Syria war. Base will be gone. https://t.co/vmWWExNGPp
— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) 11 апреля 2018 г.
You just betrayed your entire voter base and the USA. When your insane sabre-rattling leads to all out war, will you nuke the world or back down? Because Russia will not. Either way, you're fucked - and all because your (((puppet-masters)) want to make #Syria safe for #AlQaeda
— Nick Griffin (@NickGriffinBU) 11 апреля 2018 г.
Deep State is trying to force Trump’s hand after he publicly signaled an intent to pull back from Syria. Now he’s got to thread the needle between showing strength to the Russia/Iran/Syria/Turkey Axis without escalating our intervention there and cucking his base. Tall order!
— Nicholas J. Fuentes (@NickJFuentes) 9 апреля 2018 г.
Trump will lose more than half his support base if he actually attacks Syria. If they do what they did in Libya, his entire legacy will have Bush/Obama-type puppet written all over it. Also, much more on table now with Russia, Iran, Turkey & China not feeling it bigly.
— An0maly (@LegendaryEnergy) 11 апреля 2018 г.
