President Donald Trump insisted on Twitter that the US relationship with North Korea 'is the best it has ever been'. Photo / AP
Donald Trump has unleashed a Twitter tirade against his own intelligence agencies, accusing them of being "wrong" and "naive" over the impending global threats.
In a direct contradiction of statements made by his top spy chiefs yesterday, he claimed "tremendous progress" had been made with Islamic State, and the "caliphate would soon be destroyed."
It came after Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told the Senate IS was "intent on resurging and still commands thousands of fighters in Iraq and Syria" and ready to attack Western adversaries, including the United States.
When I became President, ISIS was out of control in Syria & running rampant. Since then tremendous progress made, especially over last 5 weeks. Caliphate will soon be destroyed, unthinkable two years ago. Negotiating are proceeding well in Afghanistan after 18 years of fighting..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
The President identified Iran as a source of potential conflict, accusing the nation of testing rockets "last week" and warning the nation was "coming very close to the edge," in a string of furious tweets about regional tensions on Wednesday morning local time.
He added: "There (sic) economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back," telling intelligence to "go back to school".
But this was not the scenario described by Coats and CIA Director Gina Haspel, who said Tehran was not "currently" taking steps to develop nuclear weapons.
They said the country "technically" remained in compliance with the Iran nuclear deal — although it had "threatened to push the boundaries" if there were no calculable benefits from it.
Mr Trump claimed he had improved the situation by ending the "terrible Iran nuclear deal".
He said negotiations in Afghanistan were also progressing well after 18 years of fighting, and the relationship between the United States and North Korea was the "best it has ever been", with no nuclear testing, hostages returned and a "decent chance" of denuclearisation.
His rant conflicted with Coats' warning of serious threats facing the US, including cyber attacks from Iran, North Korea, China and Russia.
Coats said some traditional US allies were also moving away from the US and becoming "more open" to new partnerships.
....Fighting continues but the people of Afghanistan want peace in this never ending war. We will soon see if talks will be successful? North Korea relationship is best it has ever been with U.S. No testing, getting remains, hostages returned. Decent chance of Denuclearization...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
...Time will tell what will happen with North Korea, but at the end of the previous administration, relationship was horrendous and very bad things were about to happen. Now a whole different story. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un shortly. Progress being made-big difference!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
....a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
But this was not the scenario described by Coats and CIA Director Gina Haspel, who said Tehran was not "currently" taking steps to develop nuclear weapons.
They said the country "technically" remained in compliance with the Iran nuclear deal — although it had "threatened to push the boundaries" if there were no calculable benefits from it.
Trump claimed he had improved the situation by ending the "terrible Iran nuclear deal".
He said negotiations in Afghanistan were also progressing well after 18 years of fighting, and the relationship between the United States and North Korea was the "best it has ever been", with no nuclear testing, hostages returned and a "decent chance" of denuclearisation.
His rant conflicted with Coats' warning of serious threats facing the US, including cyber attacks from Iran, North Korea, China and Russia.
Coats said some traditional US allies were also moving away from the US and becoming "more open" to new partnerships.
"China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea increasingly use cyber operations to threaten both minds and machines in an expanding number of ways — to steal information, to influence our citizens, or to disrupt critical infrastructure," he told the Senate Intelligence Committee's annual hearing on worldwide threats.
He warned North Korea was unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons and has continued activity inconsistent with Kim Jong-un's pledges to denuclearise. "The post-World War Two international system is coming under increasing strain amid continuing cyber and WMD (weapons of mass destruction) proliferation threats, competition in space and regional conflicts."
Coats also declined to characterise the situation on the US-Mexico border as a security crisis, leading to a tweet from Mr Trump quoted Fox and Friends on "three separate caravans marching to our southern border."
The President also tweeted that if the committee meeting on border security was not contemplating a wall or physical barrier, "they are wasting their time!"
“Three separate caravans marching to our Border. The numbers are tremendous.” @foxandfriends
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
If the committee of Republicans and Democrats now meeting on Border Security is not discussing or contemplating a Wall or Physical Barrier, they are Wasting their time!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
Coats said enemies of the US were probably already looking at interfering in the 2020 presidential election, building their capabilities and refining their methods to stay one step ahead of the US.
The government and social networks including Facebook and Instagram have placed new focus on combating the spread of misinformation as more evidence emerges of sophisticated and widespread Russian election meddling. But they have an enormous job ahead of them, with Russia now highly skilled at aggravating global social and racial tensions, undermining trust in authorities and criticising politicians perceived as anti-Russia.
Coats noted that "Moscow's relationship with Beijing is closer than it's been in many decades."
Senator Mark Warner, the panel's top Democrat, said he was particularly concerned about Russia's use of social media "to amplify divisions in our society and to influence our democratic processes" and the threat from China in the technology arena.
The US on Monday announced criminal charges against China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, escalating a fight with the world's biggest telecommunications equipment maker and coming days before trade talks between Washington and Beijing.
The director of the FBI and other top intelligence officials also testified before the panel.
Trump is clashing with his closest allies all over Washington, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivering what was seen as a rebuke to the President's push to remove troops from Syria on Tuesday.
The Senate Majority Leader is advocating for an amendment to a Middle East policy bill that would acknowledge "al Qaeda, ISIS and their affiliates in Syria and Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to us here at home."
Debate began after a narrow 51-49 Senate vote, with Vice-President JD Vance involved.