Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted President Donald Trump for comments he made regarding the strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani during an appearance on ABC’s “The View.”
On Tuesday, Schumer was asked by co-host Sunny Hostin if he saw intelligence that showed that Soleimani was planning to attack four American embassies, as Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham last Friday.
He said he was “totally unconvinced” that an immediate strike was necessary based on the information he saw.
“I can tell you, I am totally unconvinced that there was any imminence that required an immediate attack.”
Watch his comments below:
.@SenSchumer tells us he is "unconvinced that there was any imminence that required an immediate attack" of Iranian Gen. Soleimani.
— The View (@TheView) January 14, 2020
"This president plays so fast and loose with the truth — not only on that issue." https://t.co/957MpX0zGh pic.twitter.com/32jPk82jj4
When pressed on whether Trump’s comments were supported by the intelligence, Schumer noted that Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that he did not see evidence that Soleimani was planning an attack on four embassies.
Hostin asked if that meant the president was “lying” to the public and Schumer responded by saying Trump has a pattern of making misleading or false statements to the public.
“This president plays so fast and loose with the truth. Not only on that issue. The other day, he just said he’s defending protecting our healthcare, our pre-existing conditions. He’s doing everything to undermine it.”
“The greatest thing America has is its honor and its values,” Schumer said, seeking to wrap up his comments. “No person has done more to destroy the honor and values of America than Donald Trump. And that’s why I think he’s gotta go — in the election.”
