In reality television fashion, President Donald Trump ominously warned reporters that "maybe it's the calm before the storm" as he posed for photographs following a briefing with military officials at the White House on Thursday evening.
Trump intentionally called reporters back from their break to make the cryptic comments as military leaders and their spouses gathered for a photo-op prior to a scheduled dinner, the New York Times reported.
"You guys know what this represents?" Trump asked reporters. "Maybe it's the calm before the storm."
"We have the world’s great military leaders in this room," Trump told reporters when asked him what he meant.
"You’ll find out," he ominously added.
TRUMP: "Maybe it's the calm before the storm."
...
REPORTER: "What storm Mr. President?"
TRUMP: "You'll find out." (via Satellite News) pic.twitter.com/bWMzGrDPNa— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 5, 2017
The comments left many wondering if Trump was foreshadowing a military action especially after tensions with North Korea have risen.
Last week Trump undermined Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a series of tweets that said, "I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man ... Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!"
There has also been speculation that Trump is referring to the Iran nuclear agreement that was achieved under the Obama administration. As the Times noted:
The president also faces an Oct. 15 deadline to recertify a nuclear weapons deal with Iran, which was negotiated under former President Barack Obama. The president is expected to decline to recertify the agreement, which would essentially allow Congress to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions.
Unsurprisingly the internet had plenty of reactions to the president's obsession with spectacle and drama. "This ain't normal," comedian Roy Wood Jr. tweeted. "Apply this to any other conversation and it's crazy. HUSBAND: it's the calm before the storm WIFE: what storm? HUSBAND: Oh, you'll find out"
This ain't normal. Apply this to any other conversation and it's crazy. HUSBAND: it's the calm before the storm WIFE: what storm? HUSBAND: Oh, you'll find out https://t.co/5UxCStArf6 — Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi (@roywoodjr) October 6, 2017
"Are we having fun yet? *Takes a shot of whisky*" CNN contributor, Amanda Carpenter, tweeted.
Are we having fun yet? *Takes a shot of whisky* https://t.co/7Kmkt73Hbb — Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) October 5, 2017
"'Tune in next week,' the president said 'for the next exciting episode of 'The White House,'" Tim O'Brien wrote.
“Tune in next week,” the president said “for the next exciting episode of ‘The White House.’” https://t.co/RIg0r1VHph — Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) October 5, 2017
"We just had the largest mass murder in US modern history, people are dying in Puerto Rico, and Trump calls this the calm before the storm?" Amy Siskind tweeted. "
We just had the largest mass murder in US modern history, people are dying in Puerto Rico, and Trump calls this the calm before the storm?
— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) October 6, 2017
Jonathan Swan, a reporter for Axios, said he believes "there's a high degree of probability that he's trolling everyone."
.@jonathanvswan on Trump's 'calm before the storm' comment: "I think there's a high degree of probability that he's trolling everyone." pic.twitter.com/PTr7Vh0YXB
— Axios (@axios) October 6, 2017
Shares