A Complete Analysis Of Trump’s 142nd Unpresidented Week As POTUS
President Donald J. Trump, joined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley, attends a briefing with senior military leaders Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in the Cabinet Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
Trump’s first major typo after winning the election was spelling Unprecedented incorrectly. He infamously tweeted “Unpresidented.” This typo is emblematic of his administration: An impulsive, frantically thrown together group of characters with virtually no oversight. After Trump was sworn in, I started writing the weekly “Unpresidented” column, analyzing his every move. This is week 142.
This week, Donald Trump made the most depraved, reckless, and deadly decision of his entire presidency. In a single move, President Trump greenlit the ethnic cleansing of the allies who helped us diminish ISIS, he gave ISIS a second wind, and he played directly into Russia, Assad, and Iran’s hands. This is an unmitigated disaster sparked by a betrayal of historic proportions.
President Trump’s sudden withdrawal of troops (repositioning of 50-100 troops) from Northern Syria came after a Sunday phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Pentagon, Congress, and our Kurdish allies on the ground in Syria were completely blindsided. Turkey wasted no time in beginning the slaughter.
On Wednesday, Turkey began their offensive into Northern Syria and since then, over 100 people have been killed, including children. Over 100,000 people are fleeing south as the military strikes from Turkey bombard Northern Syria. Turkey has even shelled positions very close to US troops, sparking the US to announce they will move all troops out of northern Syria.
Reports of the Kurds feeling betrayed by the US swamped the news cycle, as stories of children being killed multiplied. A US Special Forces Soldier on the ground told Fox News that they felt “ashamed” for the first time in their career. Former generals expressed bewilderment at this stunning betrayal. The message this sends our allies and adversaries alike is unmistakable: you cannot trust the United States under President Trump.
By the weekend, the previously US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the Kurds, had no choice but to cut a deal with the Syrian government to the South. President Trump drove the Kurds into the hands of Russia and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, ISIS fighters and over 700 ISIS supporters have escaped prisons that the Kurds can no longer guard as they combat Turkey’s offensive.
This catastrophic move has received widespread bipartisan backlash just when President Trump needs Republican support most. The House’s impeachment inquiry is still moving full speed ahead. More evidence of President Trump’s quid pro quo-laden attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens surfaced. Two associates of Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani were arrested in connection with a scheme adjacent to this, and now Giuliani himself is under investigation. Also, damning testimony from then-Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, highlighted Trump’s corruption.
As of the date of this edition of Unpresidented, we are 5 days into Turkey’s Syria offensive and 20 days into the impeachment inquiry. Let’s dive into yet another Unpresidented week.
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Trump’s Historic Betrayal Of The Kurds
Day 991: Monday, October 7
On the left: Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces gather after a training session at a firing range in northern Syria – May 21, 2016 (AP Photo/Robert Burns). On the right: President Donald Trump shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
It was October 17, 2017, almost two years ago. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) could be seen cheering in the streets of Raqqa, Syria. It was a powerful moment of celebration years in the making. The de facto capital of ISIS, where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had declared its caliphate, had fallen.
Among those in this US-coalition were Kurdish YPG forces, over ten thousand of which died in the fight against ISIS. Flash forward to this week and the President of the United States just left more of them to die at the hands of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Late on Sunday, President Trump announced the spontaneous withdrawal of troops from Northern Syria and the abandonment of those Kurdish forces who helped us diminish ISIS. Trump did this after speaking to the authoritarian leader of Turkey, Erdoğan. This move not only blindsided Congress, our allies, and the Kurds themselves, the Pentagon was reportedly not consulted.
President Trump (who has business interests in Turkey) gave the green light for Erdoğan to launch the military campaign against the Kurds he’s long wanted. Erdoğan believes the Kurds to be terrorists and wants them to no longer be at the Northern Syrian border. The Kurds reacted with understandable outrage.
Syria Kurdish official told us, reacting to Trump’s overnight decision.
“The Americans are traitors. They have abandoned us to a Turkish massacre.
We can no longer fight against isis and have to defend ourselves. This could allow isis to return to the region.”— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) October 7, 2019
Given the imminent slaughter of the Kurds, this drew bipartisan backlash. Staunch Trump defender Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) led the pack with his appearance on Fox & Friends.
Lindsey Graham calls in to Fox & Friends & calls Trump’s decision to abandon the Kurds “impulsive.”
“I hope I’m making myself clear how shortsighted & irresponsible this decision is in my view,” he says. “This to me is just unnerving to its core.” pic.twitter.com/URH0DVA1bo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 7, 2019
Widespread condemnation came from Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and more. Senator Graham even announced a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Turkey. After this sharp Republican response, President Trump sent out one of his most unhinged tweets ever.
As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
Before President Trump had the chance to backtrack, it was too late. Reports indicated Turkey’s assault on the Kurds had already begun, but the US denied them.
This is what the situation on the ground looks like:
This withdrawal is not only a betrayal of our closest allies in the battle against ISIS, it has wide-ranging geopolitical ramifications. Senator Graham outlined the most direct consequences of Trump’s decision in a concise manner:
* Ensures ISIS comeback.
* Forces Kurds to align with Assad and Iran.
* Destroys Turkey’s relationship with U.S. Congress.
* Will be a stain on America’s honor for abandoning the Kurds.— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 7, 2019
How does this ensure an ISIS comeback? The SDF has about 10,000 ISIS prisoners in their custody. It’ll be quite hard to guard them when they’re fighting off Turkish forces. President Trump’s move to withdraw could directly give ISIS a second wind.
This move also plays directly into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hands, as well as Syrian Dictator Bashar Al Assad and Iran. President Trump has also once again eroded America’s credibility in an irreparable manner. The Kurds allowed America to combat ISIS in Syria without sizable troop commitments by allying with us. Who would trust the United States now?
The bipartisan condemnation should give you insight into how terrible this move truly was, but of course, Republicans also own this. This is an unmistakable tragedy directly green lit by the President of the United States and enabled by the Republican Party who has refused to hold him accountable for his corruption and unfitness for office.
Perhaps, President Trump just needs a pep talk with himself.
Trump in September 2018 has some words for Trump today:
“Don’t forget that’s their territory. We have to help them… Tens of thousands of Kurds died fighting ISIS. They died for us and with us and for themselves… but they’re great people…I don’t forget.pic.twitter.com/uIxYfxBKfl
— Rantt Media (@RanttMedia) October 7, 2019
In other news…
- ABC News: 2nd whistleblower comes forward after speaking with IG: Attorney
- The New York Times: Barr and a Top Prosecutor Cast a Wide Net in Reviewing the Russia Inquiry
- Business Insider: Trump suggests Nancy Pelosi is guilty of treason amid impeachment inquiry
- CNN: Hong Kong mask ban leads to weekend of violent and destructive protests
- Axios Scoop: Trump pins Ukraine call on Energy Secretary Rick Perry
- AP Sources: Trump allies sought changes at Ukraine utility
- Axios: Trump says he worries about the stain impeachment will leave on his legacy
- The New York Times: N.B.A. Executive’s Hong Kong Tweet Starts Firestorm in China
The Trickle-Down Con
Day 992: Tuesday, October 8
President Ronald Reagan’s Cabinet, 1981 (Official White House Photo)
For decades, Republicans have pushed policies that give tax cuts to the super-rich with promises the wealth would trickle-down. It never does. Here’s why.
Read The Full Article From Rantt Editor Greg Fish
In other news…
- NBC News: State Department blocks ambassador from testifying in Trump impeachment inquiry
- ABC News: White House official told whistleblower Trump Ukraine call was ‘frightening’
- USA TODAY: Supreme Court is divided over gay, transgender job bias in civil rights case to be decided during 2020 election
- Business Insider: A top Democrat is sounding the alarm that the Trump administration is considering pulling out of a vital treaty with Russia
- The Washington Post: Federal judge rules Trump must turn over his tax returns to Manhattan DA, but Trump has appealed
- The New York Times: House Democrats Subpoena Pentagon, White House Budget Office for Ukraine Documents
- NBC News: Bipartisan senators weigh new laws to block foreign interference in elections on social media
- CNBC: Justice Department asks judge to block House from getting Mueller grand jury materials, says Watergate decision was wrong
- Politico: Judge signals Dems may get to see Mueller’s secrets
- CNBC: Polls begin to signal rising impeachment threat to Trump
- CNN: Pressure on Republicans grows as Trump’s impeachment net tightens
- Vanity Fair: Mitt Won’t Primary Trump—But He’s Trying to Bring Him Down
- TheHill: Former George W. Bush chief of staff endorses Trump impeachment inquiry
- The Guardian: Trump firm ‘refusing to pay’ legal bill for windfarm case
- Bloomberg: Trump’s Education Chief in Hot Seat Over Student-Debt Collection
- CNBC: Brexit: UK government preparing for breakdown in EU talks
- The Daily Beast: RealClear Media Has a Secret Facebook Page to Push Far-Right Memes
Turkey’s Syria Offensive Begins
Day 993: Wednesday, October 9
President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the G20 Japan Summit Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Osaka, Japan. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
On Wednesday, the world awoke to the news of Turkey’s military incursion in northern Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wasted no time after being given the green light by President Trump on Sunday to begin their assault on the Kurds. Problem is, the Kurds, as steadfast members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were key allies in our fight against ISIS. President Trump has betrayed them.
“What we’re seeing is one of the greatest betrayals in military history.”@DominicWaghorn has the latest as Turkey launches its military operation in northern Syria.
Read more: https://t.co/vsG14H3WGn pic.twitter.com/usZHs4ssTb
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 9, 2019
President Trump released a statement trying to distance himself from his own decision by calling Turkey’s incursion a “bad idea.” Trump went on to state: “Turkey has committed to protecting civilians, protecting religious minorities, including Christians, and ensuring no humanitarian crisis takes place—and we will hold them to this commitment…” As we saw today, that commitment has already been violated.
#SDF Press Office:
3 fighters & 5 civilians martyred.
Dozens of civilians injured due to large-scale indiscriminate Turkish shelling on all-long border-line towns of northeastern #Syria.— Coordination & Military Ops Center – SDF (@cmoc_sdf) October 9, 2019
Fleeing civilians tell CNN they don’t know where to go
CNN’s @clarissaward speaks to civilians who are attempting to escape the chaos in Syria. https://t.co/x3nqaK1xon pic.twitter.com/nKvhnzk71R
— CNN (@CNN) October 9, 2019
It can’t be overstated how reckless it was for President Trump to leave the Kurds (who helped us diminish ISIS) to die in Syria. As we’ve previously covered, this reduces America’s global standing, erodes our trust, and feeds into the hands of Russia, Assad, Iran, and ISIS. And of course, there’s the humanitarian disaster this causes. As reports of civilians being killed poured in, Trump berated the Kurds to try and justify his green-lighting of Turkey’s slaughter.
“The Kurds are fighting for their land… they didn’t help us in the Second World War, they didn’t help us with Normandy…”
Trump notes that the Kurds “didn’t help us in the Second War War, they didn’t help us with Normandy” — the idea being that this justifies not helping them against Turkey pic.twitter.com/SXdZOIqs1n
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2019
President Trump then went on to send a startling message to our allies by essentially saying he’d be indifferent if ISIS was unleashed in Europe.
Trump indicates he’s not worried about ISIS fighters escaping northern Syria because if they do they’ll just end up in Europe pic.twitter.com/cBsbXQxjsg
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2019
What Trump is referencing are the 10,000 ISIS prisoners being guarded by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This Turkish assault risks those prisoners being freed. As we’ve previously reported, this move has garnered widespread bipartisan backlash. Today, we learned about how some of the troops on the ground feel. This is from a Fox News National Security Correspondent:
I just spoke to a distraught US Special Forces soldier who is among the 1000 or so US troops in Syria tonight who is serving alongside the SDF Kurdish forces. It was one of the hardest phone calls I have ever taken.
“I am ashamed for the first time in my career.”
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
This veteran US Special forces soldier has trained indigenous forces on multiple continents. He is on the frontlines tonight and said they are witnessing Turkish atrocities.
“Turkey is not doing what it agreed to. It’s horrible,” this military source on the ground told me.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
“We met every single security agreement. The Kurds met every single agreement. There was NO threat to the Turks – NONE – from this side of the border.” “This is insanity,” the concerned US service member told me. “”I don’t know what they call atrocities but they are happening.”
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
This American soldier told me the Kurds have not left their positions guarding the ISIS prisoners. In fact “they prevented a prison break last night without us.”
“They are not abandoning our side (yet).”
The Kurds are “pleading for our support.” We are doing “nothing.”— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) October 9, 2019
We don’t know how far Turkey plans to take this military incursion, but one thing is for sure: our allies can never trust an America under President Trump again.
In other news…
- Mother Jones: Trump Announces Plan to Unconditionally Stonewall Congress
- Bloomberg: Trump Enlists Trey Gowdy to Help With Impeachment Fight
- Reuters: China plans to restrict visas for U.S. visitors with ‘anti-China’ links
- CNBC: China’s reaction to the NBA is the wake-up call the world needed
- CNN: Facebook denies Biden campaign’s request to remove false Ukraine ad by Trump campaign
- CNBC: Justice Department asks judge to block House from getting Mueller grand jury materials, says Watergate decision was wrong
- NBC News: Bipartisan senators weigh new laws to block foreign interference in elections on social media
- Bloomberg: Trump’s Education Chief in Hot Seat Over Student-Debt Collection
The Arrest Of Parnas And Fruman
Day 994: Thursday, October 10
From left: Vice President Mike Pence, Igor Fruman, Lev Parnas, President Donald Trump, and Trump Lawyer Rudy Giuliani (Miami Herald)
Late Wednesday, two foreign-born associates of Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani were arrested at Dulles National Airport. They had purchased one-way tickets to Vienna in an apparent effort to flee the incoming criminal campaign finance charges.
The indictment alleges that Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas funneled Russian money into pro-Trump Super PAC, America First Action PAC, ahead of the 2018 Midterm Elections. The two donated $325,000 to the PAC and contributed over $20,000 to “Congressman-1,” who is former Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX). America First Action PAC spent over $3 million to benefit Rep. Sessions. Fruman and Parnas also met with Rep. Sessions multiple times and lobbied for the removal of then-Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.
Rep. Sessions then went on to send a letter in May 2018 to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about Ambassador Yovanovitch, stating “consider terminating her ambassadorship and find a replacement as soon as possible.” President Trump would later remove Ambassador Yovanovitch after Giuliani lobbied for her removal this year due to her standing in the way of their efforts to pressure Ukraine. In his July 25th phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Trump called Yovanovitch “bad news” and told Zelensky that the former Ambassador would be “going to go through some things.”
Southern District of New York (SDNY) Attorney Geoffrey Berman outlined the scheme in a press conference on Thursday:
Fruman and Parnas also donated to numerous other Republicans lawmakers and groups, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Florida Governor Ron Desantis (R), and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). These two names have come up before due to the help they’ve given Giuliani in his, and President Trump’s, effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens and the origins of the Mueller probe. Giuliani’s financial ties to Fruman and Parnas are also being investigated and it was reported Giuliani was planning to head to Vienna on Thursday also. This is where more questions are raised.
Parnas told BuzzFeed News in July that he has met with President Trump multiple times, at both the White House and Mar-a-Lago. There are photos of Parnas on Capitol Hill, and one with President Trump at the White House in May of 2018. Both Fruman and Parnas met with Donald Trump Jr. later that same month (which is interesting given the fact Jr. also publicly criticized Yovanovitch). That’s the same month they gave the $325,000 to the pro-Trump Super PAC.
And here’s Lev Parnas and Trump at the White House, also from here https://t.co/eGFV14xptI pic.twitter.com/3lVYLvMxRQ
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) October 10, 2019
Don Jr., Tommy Hicks, Jr. , Parnas and Fruman in calmer times. pic.twitter.com/zCxuIDFi5N
— Tim O’Brien (@TimOBrien) October 10, 2019
In summary: Two men were indicted for allegedly funneling Russian money into a pro-Trump Super PAC and to a Republican Congressman who lobbied on their behalf. They then met with President Trump (who would later go on to seek election help from Ukraine) on multiple occasions. President Trump eventually acted on one of their requests, which was to get rid of Ambassador Yovanovitch. Yovanovitch is scheduled to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Friday.
Was President Trump told that these two men also wanted Ambassador Yovanovitch gone? What was the context of the conversations and multiple meetings between Trump and these men? Was Rudy Giuliani aware of the source of the foreign money Fruman and Parnas funneled towards these Republican pockets?
Needless to say, stay tuned to this story. It isn’t over.
In other news…
- Bloomberg: Trump Urged Top Aide to Help Giuliani Client Facing DOJ Charges
- The Independent: Trump accused of 26 new cases of ‘unwanted sexual contact’
- CNN: New poll finds more than half support impeaching Trump and removing him from office
- CNN: Trump warns GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell about disloyal Republicans
- The Washington Post: Marie Yovanovitch, ex-ambassador to Ukraine, expected to testify in impeachment probe despite White House pledge not to cooperate, people familiar say
- The Washington Post: House Democrats subpoena Perry, Giuliani associates; Trump holds first campaign rally since impeachment inquiry launch
- CNN: Trump told Perry and State Department officials as early as May to talk to Giuliani about Ukraine
- Vox: Facebook is refusing to take down a Trump ad making false claims about Joe Biden
- CBS News: Harvey Weinstein used Matt Lauer allegations to silence NBC, Ronan Farrow alleges
- USA TODAY: Accuser Brooke Nevils says Matt Lauer is victim blaming: ‘The shame in this story belongs to him’
The Hybrid War
Day 995: Friday, October 11
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and U.S. President Donald Trump give a joint news conference at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday, July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Authoritarians are making alliances with members of the radical right. They are eroding democratic institutions, pushing disinformation, and fear-mongering. The threat to liberal democracy is a global one and must be faced head-on.
Dr. Chamila Liyanage is a Policy and Practitioner Fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right (CARR) and a Researcher/Content Developer at Radical-R: Radicalisation Research, UK.
In other news…
- Reuters: Thousands flee, hundreds reported dead in Turkish attack on U.S.-allied Kurds in Syria
- The New York Times: ISIS Rears Its Head, Adding to Chaos as Turkey Battles Kurds
- CNN: Turkish artillery fire comes close to US forces in Syria
- The Washington Post: Ousted ambassador Marie Yovanovitch tells Congress Trump pressured State Dept. to remove her
- CNN: Kevin McAleenan resigns as acting homeland security secretary
- CNN: Mike Pompeo’s senior adviser resigns
- ABC News: Giuliani’s relationship with arrested men subject of criminal investigation: Sources
- CNN: Giuliani used Oval Office meeting with Trump and Tillerson to press for help for client
- The Washington Post: At least four national security officials raised alarms about Ukraine policy before and after Trump call with Ukrainian president
- NBC News: Trump admin sending thousands more U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia
- The Daily Beast: More Potential Whistleblowers Are Contacting Congress
- The Wall Street Journal: White House Shifted Authority Over Ukraine Aid Amid Legal Concerns
- NBC News: Judge rules Trump violated the law on wall funding with national emergency
- CNN: Trump loses appeal to stop House subpoena of his tax documents
- CBS News: Courts block Trump policy targeting low-income immigrants
- NBC News: Trump’s former Russia aide set to give revealing testimony on Giuliani, Sondland
- Politico: Indicted Giuliani associate attended private ‘16 election night party for ‘friend’ Trump
- Los Angeles Times: Trump’s children take in millions overseas as president slams Biden’s son
- CNBC: Trump says the US has come to a substantial phase one deal with China
- The New York Times: Shepard Smith, Fox News Anchor, Abruptly Departs From Network
- Vanity Fair: Why Is William Barr Meeting With Rupert Murdoch?
- Vox: 17 former Watergate prosecutors say Trump should be impeached
- The Hill: White House accidentally sends Ukraine talking points to Democrats again
- Mediaite: Ben Shapiro Threatens Beto O’Rourke Over Religion
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