Megyn Kelly unleashed a blistering rebuke of President Donald Trumps latest social media barrage against Iran, branding his rhetoric completely irresponsible and disgusting and declaring she was sick of this sh*t!.
The conservative commentator delivered her tirade during a monologue reacting to Trumps online threats, which she characterized as threatening a bunch of war crimes and casually targeting civilians, according to Mediaite. Kelly, who has often tried to interpret Trumps unconventional style for right-leaning audiences, made clear that this time she believed he had crossed a moral and strategic line.
I dont know about you, but I am sick of this sh*t! Im just Im sick of it, Kelly exclaimed, venting frustration at what she described as the presidents refusal to exercise basic restraint. Cant he just behave like a normal human? I mean, honestly, like the president 3D chess just shut up! F*cking shut up about that sh*t!
She condemned the notion of threatening mass destruction in offhand fashion, particularly when innocent people are involved. You dont threaten to wipe out an entire civilization. Were talking about civilians, just casually in a social media post, she said, underscoring that even those sympathetic to Trumps broader agenda should recognize a red line.
Kelly stressed that she has long tried to understand Trumps methods and avoid overreacting to his loose and incendiary language. You know, like, I am the first to try to understand Trump and his strategy and not freak out over his weird social media posts and language that is loose and incendiary, she noted, adding, Truly, Ive lived with it for ten plus years.
Recalling her own experience as a Trump target, Kelly suggested that ordeal had given her insight into his online persona. I learned it the hard way, when I was on the receiving end of it for nine months, and truly I think that was a gift to me in many ways because it helped me really come to understand what he does with his social media, she reflected, before drawing a firm line: But this is completely irresponsible and disgusting. This is wrong. Its wrong. He should not be doing it.
Kelly rejected any defense that such rhetoric might be part of a hardball diplomatic strategy. I dont care that its a negotia his negotiation tactic is to kill an entire country full of civilians men, women, and children an American president, so that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened? Its just wrong, she argued, insisting that moral clarity should not be complicated by geopolitical calculations.
She questioned what it says about American leadership if such threats are deemed necessary. Its not hard to say it, its not hard to recognize it. I wish he would stop doing this, Kelly continued, asking, Like, he cant negotiate without doing this? What does that say about him? What does that say about the position that our country is in right now in these negotiations?
Kelly further warned that this kind of language risks degrading Americas global standing rather than projecting strength. Hes got to say this? He cant be a dignified, strong leader without threatening a bunch of war crimes? Like what is he, Genghis Khan? she said, adding, Like, what is he trying to do and why cant he do it with strength threats, sure, go for it that dont diminish and demean the United States of America in this way?
Her criticism was echoed from within the military community by former U.S. Navy SEAL Robert ONeill, the man who took credit for killing Osama Bin Laden, who also labeled Trumps posts inappropriate. Someone should step up on something like this. The optics are very important and you really cant say youre gonna wipe out an entire civilization, ONeill said during an appearance, emphasizing the gravity of presidential messaging in matters of war and peace.
ONeill reminded viewers that the commander-in-chiefs words carry unique weight in a dangerous world. You need to take a deep breath and realize youre the commander-in-chief of the military, youre the leader of the free world, the most powerful man in the free world. Some things just shouldnt be said even if you want to, he cautioned, implicitly urging more discipline from the Oval Office.
Despite the fiery rhetoric, Trump ultimately refrained from ordering strikes on Irans civilian infrastructure on Tuesday night, opting instead to extend his deadline by two weeks. He framed the move as a strategic pause, announcing what he described as a double sided CEASEFIRE! and leaving both critics and supporters to debate whether his high-risk messaging is a necessary show of resolve or an avoidable self-inflicted wound.
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