President Donald Trump began his latest Twitter rant Wednesday morning at 6:30, tweeting about a “phony” story in the “Failing New York Times,” which might reveal just how little he knows about the people he trusts. Trump also denied the White House is in chaos, and in an unusual turn, threatened Russia, while acknowledging the U.S. is in an arms race with Russia.
6:30 AM:
Trump is referring to a $150,000 payment to the Donald J. Trump Foundation that was made in exchange for a 20-minute speech (what was that about Hillary Clinton giving paid speeches?) What Trump does not say is Schoen is not just a “pundit,” he’s a registered foreign agent working for a steel oligarch, Ukrainian “businessman” Victor Pinchuk.
Maybe Schoen asked Trump to do the speech, but it likely would have been on behalf of Pinchuk. In fact, in 2016, a Pinchuk spokesperson acknowledged he had made the donation.
So how much does Trump know about the people he surrounds himself with? And what are his advisors – generally his children – telling him?
6:38 AM:
Trump claims the White House and he are “Very calm and calculated.”
6:47 AM:
Trump finishes his tweet nine minutes after posting the previous one. Says obstruction is merely him fighting back, rants again about the “Unthinkable” raid on his personal attorney’s offices and residences. “BAD!”
6:57 AM:
Shortly after saying how “calm” everything is, Trump threatens Russia, telegraphing his military plans – which he repeatedly attacked President Obama for doing.
7:37 AM:
Trump acknowledges the U.S. is in an arms race with Russia.
Image by Donkeyhotey via Flickr and a CC license