Reed Condemns Trump’s Ominous & Escalating Iran Threat

PROVIDENCE, RI - After President Donald Trump posted a reckless threat on social media today ominously warning Iran that"a whole civilization will die tonight" unless Iran does "something revolutionarily wonderful," U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, strongly condemned the president's irresponsible rhetoric, stating:

"President Trump's social media post goes beyond what any president should say or do. Threatening to eliminate a civilization is comparable to genocide. That is illegal, immoral, and should not be in the vocabulary of an American president. The ominous sentiment he's suggesting would be a criminal act.

"Unfortunately, he's put our professional military officers in a very difficult situation. They cannot carry out an illegal order.

"So, President Trump, once again, is involved in this 'virtual, online argument,' and I hope that it is all mere words, not actions. But the rhetoric is outrageous and unacceptable.

"I think the president's behavior is setting back our chances of a peaceful ceasefire. Our allies are no longer just skeptical. They're shocked and appalled. And they can't tolerate even the suggestion, let alone the behavior, he's talking about. And I think he's not focused on realistically ending this conflict and he seems to have lost control. In fact, he's become as fanatical as the regime leaders in Tehran.

"So now you seem to have two groups of fanatic leaders battling each other. That's not a good outcome for the world or for peace."

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