Fear: Trump in the White House(125)
“I just wanted to announce”: Donald J. Trump, “Remarks on the Appointment of Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster (USA) as National Security Adviser in Palm Beach, Florida, and an Exchange with Reporters,” February 20, 2017. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=123396.
CHAPTER 12
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
Dispelling any doubt: Christine Kim, “Voice of Triumph or Doom: North Korean Presenter Back in Limelight for Nuclear Test,” Reuters, September 4, 2017.
The North’s nuclear weapons center: Matt Clinch, “Here’s the Full Statement from North Korea on Nuclear Test,” CNBC, September 9, 2016.
To compound the potential: See the CNS North Korea Missile Test Database, available for download at http://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/cns-north-korea-missile-test-database/.
Former U.S. negotiator Robert Gallucci: Panel discussion on U.S. policy on North Korea at George Washington University, August 28, 2017, Washington, D.C. Video is available at https://www.c-span.org/video/?433122-1/us-policy-north-korea.
Trump had a history of public statements: Rebecca Shabad, “Timeline: What Has Trump Said About North Korea over the Years?” CBS News, August 10, 2017.
In a 2016 campaign speech: Ibid.
In May of 2016, he told Reuters: Ibid.
As president, in 2017: Ibid.
He condemned the North’s: Barack Obama, “Statement on North Korea’s Nuclear Test,” September 9, 2016. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=118931.
To maximize shock value: Elizabeth Weise, “Sony Pictures Entertainment Hacked,” USA Today, November 24, 2014.
CHAPTER 13
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
Former vice president Joe Biden: Bob Woodward, Obama’s Wars (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2010), p. 62.
He’d called Trump a “jackass”: Nicholas Fandos, “Lindsey Graham Destroys Cellphone After Donald Trump Discloses His Number,” The New York Times, July 22, 2015.
He endorsed Jeb Bush: Cheri Cheng, “Lindsey Graham Endorses Presidential Candidate Jeb Bush,”News EveryDay, January 15, 2016.
Graham and McCain had released: “Statement by Senators McCain and Graham on Executive Order on Immigration,” January 29, 2017.
Just days before, on March 5: See the CNS North Korea Missile Test Database, available for download at http://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/cns-north-korea-missile-test-database/.
The week prior, on March 4: View Trump’s tweets at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/837989835818287106; https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/837993273679560704; https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/837994257566863360; https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/837996746236182529.
In 2015, Trump had made: Jonathan Martin and Alan Rappeport, “Donald Trump Says John McCain Is No War Hero, Setting Off Another Storm,” The New York Times, July 18, 2015.
During a spring meeting: Adriana Diaz, “U.S. THAAD Missile System a Factor in South Korea’s Presidential Election,” CBS News, May 8, 2017.
Trump later told Reuters: Stephen J. Adler, Jeff Mason and Steve Holland, “Exclusive: Trump Vows to Fix or Scrap South Korean Trade Deal, Wants Missile System Payment,” Reuters, April 27, 2017.
He told Chris Wallace on Fox News: “McMaster Says U.S. Will Pay for THAAD Antimissile System in South Korea,” Fox News, April 30, 2017.
As a first step: “South Korea Trade Ministry Says Ready to Begin Renegotiating U.S. Trade Pact,” Reuters, December 17, 2017.
CHAPTER 14
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
McMaster, angry with Harvey: McMaster fired Harvey on July 27, 2017.
When it looked like they were: Julie Hirschfeld Davis, “Trump Meets Saudi Prince as U.S. and Kingdom Seek Warmer Relations,” The New York Times, March 14, 2017.
Trump finally gave the go-ahead: Mark Landler and Peter Baker, “Saudi Arabia and Israel Will Be on Itinerary of Trump’s First Foreign Trip,” The New York Times, May 4, 2017.
He announced $110 billion: Aaron Mehta, “Revealed: Trump’s $110 Billion Weapons List for the Saudis,” DefenseNews, June 8, 2017.
The next month Saudi king Salman: Sudarsan Raghavan and Kareem Fahaim, “Saudi King Names Son as New Crown Prince, Upending the Royal Succession,” The Washington Post, June 21, 2017.
CHAPTER 15
The information in this chapter comes primarily from multiple deep background interviews with firsthand sources.
Beginning in 2011, four years: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/122396588336349184.
In March 2012, he tweeted: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/179270017064513536.
In January, it was, “Let’s get out”: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/289807790178959360.
In March, “We should leave”: View Trump’s tweet at https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/307568422789709824.