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Trump defends killing of Suleimani: 'We did not take action to start a war' – live Trump defends killing of Suleimani: 'We did not take action to start a war' – live
(32 minutes later)
President makes first public statement since assassination of Iran’s top general and says he will take ‘whatever action is necessary’ – follow livePresident makes first public statement since assassination of Iran’s top general and says he will take ‘whatever action is necessary’ – follow live
Foreign-policy reporters criticized Mike Pence for linking Iran to the September 11 attackers without any evidence in order to justify the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
(The vice president also misstated the number of September 11 attackers as 12, rather than 19.)
Florida’s Democratic Party rolled out some religious figures of their own to counter Donald Trump’s afternoon appearance before a Christian evangelical congregation in Miami.
Doug Pagitt, a pastor and executive director of Vote Common Good, an organization that mobilizes voters of faith, decried the president’s event as a sham in a press call.
“He’s trying to use this rally and this base to give cover for his broken promises and his immoral policies,” Pagitt said.
“It is Trump’s desperate response to the realization that he’s losing his primary voting bloc, faith voters. He realizes he needs every last vote if he wants a shot at re-election [and] losing even five per cent ends his chances.
“Many of these voters realize that Jesus’s admonition that you can gain the whole world and lose your very soul is coming into focus for them. While they will hear from Donald Trump that he is the best thing to ever happen to evangelical Christianity, these are voters who know that their faith does not depend on the power of the presidency.”
Pagitt said the rally offered faith voters two different visions of America. “One is to seek all that which benefits you and your agenda. The other is to think about others and to care for the common good,” he said.
Kevin Chambliss, a youth minister at Miami’s Covenant Missionary Baptist church, spoke of the need to “hold truth to power.”
“We must hold this president accountable by calling out his disdain for law, we must speak up when he labels whole groups of people a racists, murderers and thieves, we have to speak up when he openly mocks people of disabilities, we must speak up when he unapologetically tries to use the government to discriminate against people because of their religious beliefs,” he said.
“We need to make sure we don’t have another four years of Donald Trump, I see a better day in our country when those who need help the most can receive it with loving arms and not be taken advantage of as this president has done.”
In his short statement on the Suleimani strike, Trump repeated his administration’s claim that the Iranian general was planning an imminent attack on US forces.In his short statement on the Suleimani strike, Trump repeated his administration’s claim that the Iranian general was planning an imminent attack on US forces.
“Last night, at my direction, the United States military successfully executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number one terrorist anywhere in the world, Qassem Soleimani,” the US president said in his statement. “Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him.”“Last night, at my direction, the United States military successfully executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number one terrorist anywhere in the world, Qassem Soleimani,” the US president said in his statement. “Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him.”
But it appears even some Penragon officials were unclear on what “imminent and sinister attacks” Trump was referring to.But it appears even some Penragon officials were unclear on what “imminent and sinister attacks” Trump was referring to.
The New York Times reports:The New York Times reports:
The vice president has jumped to Trump’s defense to justify the drone strike that killed Qassem Suleimani, calling the Iranian general “an evil man who was responsible for killing thousands of Americans.”The vice president has jumped to Trump’s defense to justify the drone strike that killed Qassem Suleimani, calling the Iranian general “an evil man who was responsible for killing thousands of Americans.”
But Pence’s list of “atrocities” was criticized by experts for including falsehoods, such as misstating the number of September 11 attackers and linking those terrorists to Iran without any evidence.But Pence’s list of “atrocities” was criticized by experts for including falsehoods, such as misstating the number of September 11 attackers and linking those terrorists to Iran without any evidence.
Here is more of the short statement Trump delivered on the Suelimani strike moments ago at Mar-a-Lago:Here is more of the short statement Trump delivered on the Suelimani strike moments ago at Mar-a-Lago:
“As president my highest and most solemn duty is the defense of our nation and its citizens. Last night, at my direction, the United States military successfully executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number one terrorist anywhere in the world, Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him.“As president my highest and most solemn duty is the defense of our nation and its citizens. Last night, at my direction, the United States military successfully executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number one terrorist anywhere in the world, Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him.
“Under my leadership America’s policy is unambiguous to terrorists who harm or intend to harm any American. We will find you. We will eliminate you. ...“Under my leadership America’s policy is unambiguous to terrorists who harm or intend to harm any American. We will find you. We will eliminate you. ...
“Today we remember and honor the victims of Soleimani’s many atrocities and we take comfort in knowing that his reign of terror is over. Soleimani has been perpetrating acts of terror to destabilize the Middle East for the last 20 years. What the United States did yesterday should have been done long ago. ...“Today we remember and honor the victims of Soleimani’s many atrocities and we take comfort in knowing that his reign of terror is over. Soleimani has been perpetrating acts of terror to destabilize the Middle East for the last 20 years. What the United States did yesterday should have been done long ago. ...
“America will always pursue the interests of good people, great people, great souls, while seeking peace, harmony and friendship with all of the nations of the world.”“America will always pursue the interests of good people, great people, great souls, while seeking peace, harmony and friendship with all of the nations of the world.”
In his statement on the Suleimani strike, Trump praised the work of the intelligence agencies that he has previously criticized as part of a “deep state” seeking to undermine his presidency.In his statement on the Suleimani strike, Trump praised the work of the intelligence agencies that he has previously criticized as part of a “deep state” seeking to undermine his presidency.
On top of that, US officials have offered few details about the imminent attack Suleimani was allegedly plotting against American forces, leading some of the president’s critics to raise doubts about the veracity of the claim.On top of that, US officials have offered few details about the imminent attack Suleimani was allegedly plotting against American forces, leading some of the president’s critics to raise doubts about the veracity of the claim.
Interestingly, the president’s team called the White House press pool back to Mar-a-Lago after the reporters had already left for the airport to travel to Trump’s event in Miami tonight.Interestingly, the president’s team called the White House press pool back to Mar-a-Lago after the reporters had already left for the airport to travel to Trump’s event in Miami tonight.
Once the press pool returned to the Florida resort, the president delivered his short statement on the Suleimani strike.Once the press pool returned to the Florida resort, the president delivered his short statement on the Suleimani strike.
Donald Trump will appear at a Miami megachurch later this afternoon intending to bolster his standing with evangelical Christians. But among the lines of supporters waiting to get in, last night’s US military strike in Baghdad was a more popular topic of conversation.Donald Trump will appear at a Miami megachurch later this afternoon intending to bolster his standing with evangelical Christians. But among the lines of supporters waiting to get in, last night’s US military strike in Baghdad was a more popular topic of conversation.
“We can get anybody, anywhere, anytime, anywhere there is terrorism,” said Michael David Layne, 62, a US Army veteran and Trump supporter from Miami, who attends the King Jesus international ministry in West Kendall where Trump is expected to deliver remarks at 5pm ET.“We can get anybody, anywhere, anytime, anywhere there is terrorism,” said Michael David Layne, 62, a US Army veteran and Trump supporter from Miami, who attends the King Jesus international ministry in West Kendall where Trump is expected to deliver remarks at 5pm ET.
Praising the president for taking “strong action,” Layne said the death of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani would help prevent future bloodshed. “This wasn’t just about last night or this morning, it’s to prevent things all around the world. There’s a lot of confusion in the world, a lot of things going on.” He also believes Trump’s Christian values helped to guide him ordering of the strike. “He might be a little rough around the edges for some people, but he says it like it is, and if some of things he says or the actions he takes upset some people it doesn’t make him less of a man of God.”Praising the president for taking “strong action,” Layne said the death of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani would help prevent future bloodshed. “This wasn’t just about last night or this morning, it’s to prevent things all around the world. There’s a lot of confusion in the world, a lot of things going on.” He also believes Trump’s Christian values helped to guide him ordering of the strike. “He might be a little rough around the edges for some people, but he says it like it is, and if some of things he says or the actions he takes upset some people it doesn’t make him less of a man of God.”
Trump’s “congregation” of around 7,000 this afternoon is heavily Hispanic, reflecting the make up of the Miami church where the Latino pastor, Guillermo Maldonado, delivers services in English and Spanish. Maldonado, a Trump loyalist who has prayed with the president at the White House, raised eyebrows in a weekend sermon when he assured immigrant parishioners in the US without papers that they would not be at risk of detention or deportation if they attended today. It makes it likely that a president whose hard-line anti-immigrant position has led to the deportation of thousands of immigrants will be counting among his supporters some of those he has demonized through policies and actions.Trump’s “congregation” of around 7,000 this afternoon is heavily Hispanic, reflecting the make up of the Miami church where the Latino pastor, Guillermo Maldonado, delivers services in English and Spanish. Maldonado, a Trump loyalist who has prayed with the president at the White House, raised eyebrows in a weekend sermon when he assured immigrant parishioners in the US without papers that they would not be at risk of detention or deportation if they attended today. It makes it likely that a president whose hard-line anti-immigrant position has led to the deportation of thousands of immigrants will be counting among his supporters some of those he has demonized through policies and actions.
There were also a handful of demonstrators outside the church, which was playing soft gospel music over loudspeakers to the waiting faithful. Francisco Morales, 47, traveled 30 miles to the event from Fort Lauderdale with placards highlighting the 10 Commandments he says Trump has violated.There were also a handful of demonstrators outside the church, which was playing soft gospel music over loudspeakers to the waiting faithful. Francisco Morales, 47, traveled 30 miles to the event from Fort Lauderdale with placards highlighting the 10 Commandments he says Trump has violated.
“He’s everything a Christian shouldn’t be. He’s about money and himself, he uses God’s word to his benefit, he doesn’t respect Christian holidays, he insults everyone. And he dishonors his wife, his daughter and all women,” Morales said.“He’s everything a Christian shouldn’t be. He’s about money and himself, he uses God’s word to his benefit, he doesn’t respect Christian holidays, he insults everyone. And he dishonors his wife, his daughter and all women,” Morales said.
In his short statement to reporters, Trump specifically said the US is not seeking “regime change” in Iran after the killing of general Qassem Suleimani.In his short statement to reporters, Trump specifically said the US is not seeking “regime change” in Iran after the killing of general Qassem Suleimani.
But just hours after the strike was carried out, the president’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, expressed hope that the attack would be “the first step to regime change in Tehran.”But just hours after the strike was carried out, the president’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, expressed hope that the attack would be “the first step to regime change in Tehran.”
In his short statement to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said the US is “ready and prepared” to take “whatever action is necessary” against Iran.In his short statement to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said the US is “ready and prepared” to take “whatever action is necessary” against Iran.
With that, the US president turned and left without responding to shouted questions from the White House press pool.With that, the US president turned and left without responding to shouted questions from the White House press pool.
Trump is delivering a statement to reporters at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago, his first public remarks since the killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.Trump is delivering a statement to reporters at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago, his first public remarks since the killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
“We caught him in the act and eliminated him,” the US president said. “We take comfort in knowing that his reign of terror is over.”“We caught him in the act and eliminated him,” the US president said. “We take comfort in knowing that his reign of terror is over.”
“We took action last night to stop a war,” Trump added. “We did not take action to start a war.”“We took action last night to stop a war,” Trump added. “We did not take action to start a war.”
The White House press pool was just brought into a room at Mar-a-Lago with a podium, where Donald Trump is expected to soon deliver a statement on the killing of Qassem Suleimani.The White House press pool was just brought into a room at Mar-a-Lago with a podium, where Donald Trump is expected to soon deliver a statement on the killing of Qassem Suleimani.
Democratic senator Tim Kaine has filed a resolution to force a congressional debate on US military operations in Iran, a measure that would need only a majority of senators’ support to pass.Democratic senator Tim Kaine has filed a resolution to force a congressional debate on US military operations in Iran, a measure that would need only a majority of senators’ support to pass.
The Wall Street Journal reports:The Wall Street Journal reports:
The Russian foreign ministry has released its own statement on the conversation between minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo regarding the Suleimani strike.The Russian foreign ministry has released its own statement on the conversation between minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo regarding the Suleimani strike.
The Russian government’s statement said the US attack violates “the principles of international law” and is “fraught with grave consequences for regional peace and stability.”The Russian government’s statement said the US attack violates “the principles of international law” and is “fraught with grave consequences for regional peace and stability.”
In contrast, Pompeo said of his conversation with Lavrov that he “emphasized that de-escalation is the United States’ principal goal.”In contrast, Pompeo said of his conversation with Lavrov that he “emphasized that de-escalation is the United States’ principal goal.”
Congressman Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, expressed fear that the Suleimani strike could lead to escalation between US and Iranian forces.Congressman Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, expressed fear that the Suleimani strike could lead to escalation between US and Iranian forces.
“I’ve had the opportunity to get a briefing on the intelligence that led to the recent strikes, and I have profound concerns about the prospect for serious escalation,” the California Democrat told reporters on Capitol Hill.“I’ve had the opportunity to get a briefing on the intelligence that led to the recent strikes, and I have profound concerns about the prospect for serious escalation,” the California Democrat told reporters on Capitol Hill.