President Donald Trump responded to the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran military leader Qassem Soleimani by posting a slightly pixelated American flag. Trump’s decision was met with both criticism and a number of jokes, including people posting a string of progressively more distorted flags.
Trump posted the flag photo on Thursday night as reports surfaced that he had ordered an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq that killed Soleimani.
It’s also currently the president’s pinned tweet for his account.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2020
Many people thought the flag tweet was an insufficient response to what could become a major event as tensions rise with Iran.
“A flag is not a strategy,” Samantha Power, a former United Nations ambassador under former President Barack Obama, tweeted late Thursday. “Trump is surrounded by sycophants (having fired those who’ve dissented). He has purged Iran specialists. He has abolished NSC processes to review contingencies. He is seen as a liar around the world. This is likely to get very ugly very quickly.”
A flag is not a strategy.
Trump is surrounded by sycophants (having fired those who’ve dissented). He has purged Iran specialists. He has abolished NSC processes to review contingencies. He is seen as a liar around the world.
This is likely to get very ugly very quickly. https://t.co/UV4o0uWVfe
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) January 3, 2020
So, war again? https://t.co/8Y5Ezr4Uga
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) January 3, 2020
These assholes start a war with Iran and tweet out clip art. https://t.co/1LzrShR27B
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) January 3, 2020
When we make a decision as consequential as taking out a military leader for the sake of political gain it behooves all Americans to take heed
Displaying the symbol of our creed in the midst of such a blatant political action is repugnant & all Americans shld stand up against it https://t.co/AWAgydgLGA
— Paul Ybarra (@ybarrap) January 3, 2020
Several people responded to Trump’s tweet by placing increasingly more distorted flags. Several 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls also weighed in on the situation in a more serious manner.
https://twitter.com/JustinWhang/status/1212948329803517952
https://twitter.com/jaubreyYT/status/1212948987977883650
— koko (@KokonutRum) January 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/mookalt0509/status/1212952480981671936
— Midas (@lukaszjerzyk) January 3, 2020
— MisterJayEm (@MisterJayEm) January 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/CXRLUS/status/1213094823126847488
Here’s another look at the string of reactions:
https://twitter.com/JustinWhang/status/1212991653990084609?s=20
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