There’s an old President Trump tweet for every occasion, and World War III is no exception.
“Be prepared, there is a small chance that our horrendous leadership could unknowingly lead us into World War III,” Trump tweeted four years ago.
Be prepared, there is a small chance that our horrendous leadership could unknowingly lead us into World War III.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2013
The 2013 tweet made the rounds on Twitter again this week after Barack Obama’s former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics mistakenly thought it was a recent post.
If anything, it’s terrifying foreshadowing on Trump’s part. The president threatened North Korea with “fire and fury” in a statement Tuesday, responding to reports that the country has successfully produced a miniature nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles.
Hours later, a North Korean news report said the country’s military is “examining the operational plan” to strike areas around the U.S. territory of Guam with ballistic missiles.
Twitter responded to Trump’s 2013 tweet, which is a little too on the nose for 2017, with general anxiety.
When you see Trump, North Korea and World War III trending at the same time. pic.twitter.com/3ZpKhlaiYe
— Avery Jr. (@averymontjr) August 8, 2017
When you get off twitter for a bit and come back to see North Korea and World War III trending. pic.twitter.com/idQRlEWT50
— ZEF (@beatsbyzef) August 8, 2017
ay can World War III not happen i jus got a job today n i got a girlfriend i really like let that shit happen in like 3 months or sumn
— alex (@mineifiwildout) August 8, 2017
Even as the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attempted to downplay the threats of nuclear warfare, Trump took to Twitter again Wednesday to boast about the strength of the U.S. arsenal.
“Hopefully we will never have to use this power,” Trump added.
My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2017
…Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 9, 2017