Donald is going ‘nuclear’
‘Arms race’ boast
WASHINGTON — Presidentelect Donald Trump on Friday embraced a nuclear arms race, pledging to “outlast” and “outmatch” America’s rivals.
Trump made the boast in a private, off-air conversation with an MSNBC host.
“Let it be an arms race, because we will outmatch them at every pass — and outlast them all,” Trump said, according to “Morning Joe” co-anchor Mika Brzezinski, who relayed the conversation.
Brzezinski and her co-host, Joe Scarborough, were oddly clad in flannel pajamas for their last show before Christmas while discussing Trump’s controversial nuke remarks.
Trump’s comments were meant to clarify a tweet he sent out Thursday in which he called for more nukes.
“The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes,” the tweet read.
The clarification might have been useful not only for the American public, but also for Trump aides, who were downplaying the president-elect’s chest-thumping remarks.
“President-elect Trump was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it — particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes,” said the president-elect’s new communications director, Jason Miller.
“He has also emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength.”
Trump’s original comment appeared to be in response to remarks made that day by Russian President Vladimir Putin (inset). But in a Friday press conference, Putin said he didn’t want an arms race.
Meanwhile, Trump continued his cozy relationship with Putin, releasing a bromance letter he received from the Russian president, who pledged to improve relations between their countries.
“Please accept my warmest Christmas and New Year greetings,” wrote Putin, who has been accused of aiding Trump in the presidential election by ordering the hacking of e-mails connected to Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
“I hope that after you assume the position of the President of the United States of America we will be able — by acting in a constructive and pragmatic manner — to take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.”