Politics & Government

Today in Trump tweets, Feb. 3, 2017: Arnold, Iran, paid protesters, terror in France

By Brian Murphy

bmurphy@mcclatchy.com

February 03, 2017 12:40 PM

Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzma listens at left as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with business leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. Evan Vucci AP

President Donald Trump took to his favorite medium for a series of declarations about a variety of issues Friday morning.

Trump sent his first tweet at 6:24 a.m., about Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former California governor and current host of Trump’s old reality television show “The Apprentice.”

Trump tweaked Schwarzenegger’s ratings Thursday during his appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast. He asked attendees to pray for Schwarzenegger’s ratings. Schwarzenegger responded with a video posted on Twitter that suggested he and Trump “switch jobs.”

Trump responded Friday morning on Twitter: “Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger did a really bad job as Governor of California and even worse on the Apprentice...but at least he tried hard.”

February 3, 2017
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Four minutes later, Trump tweeted about Iran. His administration announced new sanctions against individuals and companies in Iran on Friday morning, days after Iran conducted a ballistic missile test.

Trump has been highly critical of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that was signed by former President Barack Obama.

February 3, 2017
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Trump turned his attention to Australia in his next tweet. He reportedly had a tense discussion with the Australian prime minister on Saturday, that ended after 25 minutes. Trump is not happy with an agreement reached by the Obama administration to take 1,250 refugees currently being held in Australia, one of the U.S.’ top allies. He has called it a “dumb deal.”

Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast that he had “tough” phone calls with several leaders, and no one has truly disputed the tone of the Australia call.

“When you hear about the tough phone calls I'm having, don’t worry about it. Just don’t worry about it,” Trump said. “They're tough. We have to be tough. It’s time we're going to be a little tough, folks. We're taken advantage of by every nation in the world, virtually. It's not going to happen anymore. It's not going to happen anymore.”

In his tweet, Trump thanked the prime minister for “telling the truth about our very civil conversation that FAKE NEWS media lied about.”

February 3, 2017