President Donald Trump lamented the poor state of relations between the U.S. and Russia moments after warning the country he would strike Syria despite their protests.
Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War. There is no reason for this. Russia needs us to help with their economy, something that would be very easy to do, and we need all nations to work together. Stop the arms race?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Trump has been particularly incensed with Russia in recent days for continuing to back Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his use of deadly force against civilian populations. The President, however, has also called for good relations with Russia, saying recently it “would be a good thing, not a bad thing,” to get along with Russia and that “just about everybody agrees to that, except very stupid people, OK?”
Trump also has expressed alarm at Russia’s modernization of its nuclear weapons program and has repeatedly called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end it.