CNN's New Day Highlights Trump's Foreign Policy Flip-Flops On Iraq, Libya, And Nuclear Weapons
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
From the June 6 edition of CNN's New Day:
CHRIS CUOMO (HOST): Donald Trump isn't just worried about his politics. His policy as well is a problem. It seems as though he changed his position on U.S. military intervention in Libya. After spending most of the primary season suggesting Libya would be much better off if Muammar Gadhafi was still in charge, Trump now singing a different tune. For the before and after, we have CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, live in Washington with more. What do you see here, my friend?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX: Well, Chris, I mean, Trump's evolution on matters of foreign policy has been absolutely stunning. Last September, Trump was widely criticized, you know, for his lack of knowledge regarding the basics of international affairs. Well now, after a few foreign policy speeches and countless interviews, he is revealing what he believes the U.S. role should be around the world. And like many of his positions, it is constantly changing.
[BEGIN CLIP]
DONALD TRUMP: I was never for a strong intervention. I could have seen surgical where you take out Gadhafi and his group.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: Donald Trump reversing his position on U.S. military intervention in Libya, now saying he would have authorized targeted strikes to oust Muammar Gadhafi.
[BEGIN CLIP]
TRUMP: You do a surgical shot and you take him out, but I wasn't for what happened.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: Trump's comments Sunday contradict those he's made throughout the primary season, insisting that Libya would be better off with Gadhafi still in power at a Republican debate in February.
[BEGIN CLIP]
TRUMP: We would be so much better off if Gadhafi were in charge right now.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: And to CNN's Jake Tapper in October.
[BEGIN CLIP]
JAKE TAPPER: The world would be better off with Saddam Hussein and Gadhafi in power?
TRUMP: 100 percent.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: But in 2011, Trump advocated for action.
[BEGIN CLIP]
TRUMP: We should do, on a humanitarian basis, immediately go into Libya, knock this guy out very quickly, very surgically, very effectively, and save the lives.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: Trump's Libya flip-flop, just one of many political reversals. Last week, Trump accusing Hillary Clinton of lying about his proposal to arm Japan and South Korea with nuclear weapons.
[BEGIN CLIP]
TRUMP: She lies so much. She said, “Donald Trump wants Japan to put in nuclear weapons.” No, no, no.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: Defying his own previous comments.
[BEGIN CLIP]
TRUMP: Maybe they would, in fact, be better off if they defend themselves from North Korea. Maybe they would be better off.
CHRIS WALLACE: With nukes?
TRUMP: Including with nukes, yes.
[BEGIN CLIP]
MALVEAUX: Trump has also staunchly maintained he opposed the war in Iraq before it began.
[BEGIN CLIP]
TRUMP: I was totally against the war in Iraq. Very proudly. Saying for many years that it would destabilize the Middle East.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: A claim that contradicts this position he took back in 2002.
[BEGIN CLIP]
HOWARD STERN: Are you for invading Iraq?
TRUMP: Yeah, I guess so. You know, I wish it was -- I wish the first time it was done correctly.
[END CLIP]
MALVEAUX: What makes Trump's contradiction over Libya so stunning is it's one of the main criticisms that he has of Hillary Clinton, her role as secretary of state, to go after Gadhafi, the whole ordeal in Benghazi. And the Clinton campaign now sees Trump's reversal as a real opportunity here to make the case that he doesn't have the steadiness needed to be commander in chief.
Previously:
MSNBC's Morning Joe Lets Trump Falsely Claim He Opposed Libya Intervention And Iraq War
16 Times The Media Let Trump Falsely Claim He Opposed The Iraq War From The Beginning