Trump’s secret agreement with Mexico may be a blank sheet of paper

There is no additional deal according to Mexico. I believe Mexican officials instead of the liar in the White House.

POTUS holds up what appears to be a blank piece of paper claiming it contains the Mexican deal. Refuses to answer when I ask him to show us. ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ pic.twitter.com/m8sgJer9Uq
— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) June 11, 2019

https://t.co/WO4dAqdl5K via ⁦@shearm⁩ me
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 10, 2019

Mexico's foreign minister said explicitly Monday that nothing else has been agreed to.

"There is no other thing beyond what I have just explained." https://t.co/c8CUTsrJxo
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) June 11, 2019

This is actually a pretty big deal. This isn't just the usual vague bluster. Trump is now making the concrete threat to hit Mexico with tariffs if Mexico does not soon formally act on the secret provisions they supposedly agreed to. https://t.co/Yw0NZMXRyB
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) June 10, 2019

"In other words, Trump had backed himself, not Mexico, into a corner. They had him. He had to cave. And cave he did. He got nothing." https://t.co/dTo0wM1UIZ
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) June 10, 2019

Trump defends deal with Mexico that critics say will do little to curb migrant crisis https://t.co/Whu76njofh
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 9, 2019

The president's negotiating style has settled into a familiar — and increasingly ineffective — patternhttps://t.co/F5dfV72OOv
— POLITICO (@politico) June 9, 2019

Trump lies about his Mexico deal

The things Mexico will do were mostly agreed on months ago. Trump lied again. I noticed that the headlines last night were general “Trump said…” instead of saying there was a deal. The media knows Trump lies and didn’t want to say there was a deal until they saw proof. Sad!

The deal to avert tariffs that Trump announced with great fanfare consists largely of actions that Mexico had already promised to take in prior discussions over the past several months. ⁦@shearm ⁦@maggieNYT⁩ https://t.co/YYzJ0djnVP
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) June 8, 2019

Why are media outlets perpetuating the myth that Trump struck a meaningful “deal”?

The two components — Mexican border security and some people waiting in Mexico during the adjudication of their asylum claims — are already happening pic.twitter.com/M82zef6MpH
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 8, 2019

As far as I can tell the Mexican standoff has ended, for now, pretty much along the lines of NAFTA/USMCA: Trump huffed and puffed, US business managed to convey the message that a trade war would be a disaster, and he basically caved while pretending that he won
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) June 8, 2019

Even though Mexico is committing to doing all the new things that the U.S. is saying Mexico will do (even though we know they can't or won't.) In other words, it's non-agreement to produce non-change and to accept-the-status quo to avoid implementing the insane tariff threat.
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) June 8, 2019

One of the thing that the media has not adjusted to after more than two years of Trump: He is much more likely to lie than tell the truth

There is no evidence that Trump struck a meaningful “deal on migrants”

And yet here is the headline pic.twitter.com/BjmDH4ii9u
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 8, 2019

FACT: The joint US-Mexico declaration, which is less than 500 words long, requires Mexico to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING it isn't already doing.

It is not a "deal."

It is a fig leaf to cover up Trump's humiliating diplomatic defeat
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) June 8, 2019

Trump’s negotiating style with a host of adversaries, real or perceived, is becoming eerily familiar in Washingtonhttps://t.co/JBc61KU4uu
— POLITICO (@politico) June 8, 2019

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed how President Donald Trump handled his latest trade and immigration talks with Mexico https://t.co/97kgDJ6xFr
— CNN (@CNN) June 8, 2019

As usual Trump made a threat (tariffs on Mexico) that he couldn’t fulfill (Congress was going to block him) and so he had no leverage with Mexico.

Mexico knew this, so they just committed to do things they were already doing. No breakthrough. No way to judge if they make good.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 8, 2019

Trump lies about NATO

It appears that Trump made up a quote from the head of NATO saying there wouldn’t be NATO without Trump. Trump takes advantage of the situation. NATO would not want to antagonize him since the US is its biggest contributor. Thus, Trump knows he can lie and get away with it. Sad!

Stoltenberg has regularly credited Trump for his part in pressing NATO members to spend more on defense, but he’s never said anything to suggest NATO wouldn’t exist without Trump. Statement from NATO official: pic.twitter.com/nHTIkcYg6A
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) June 7, 2019

Trump said the head of NATO credited him with possibly saving NATO.

I know this will come as a shock, but this doesn't appear to have happened.https://t.co/X2k2QVZCXp
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) June 7, 2019

Russia likes Trump more than Obama – other countries don’t

Trump can do as many photo ops in white tie as he wants. But he is savaging our key alliances.

Change in confidence in US president from Obama in 2016 to Trump in 2018 (Pew)

Germany: -76%
Sweden: -76%
France: -75%
Canada: -58%
Australia: -52%
UK: -51%
Japan: -48%
Russia: +8%
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) June 4, 2019

To Trump’s critics, his denial of protests in a London showcased a president refusing to come to grips with the reality that he remains deeply unpopular around the world and that perceptions of U.S. global leadership have plummeted. W/⁦@ToluseO⁩ https://t.co/QdL1kuVEZF
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) June 4, 2019

Trump needs to shut up about the UK

He said Meghan Markle was nasty and lied and said he didn’t say it. There is proof that he did.

He’s taking sides in their upcoming election and on Brexit. I am sure Putin appreciates all of the chaos and damage Trump is causing. He can’t run this country so he shouldn’t tell anyone else how to run theirs.

President Trump has sent Britain's political establishment into a spin, telling the UK it should "walk away" from Brexit talks if the European Union does not give it what it wants https://t.co/EfPQSgzzNH
— CNN (@CNN) June 2, 2019

Fox headline: "Donald Trump says he never called Meghan Markle 'nasty'"

Very last sentence in the story: "Despite his denial, there is an audio recording circulating of President Trump saying the exact quote about Duchess Meghan that had been reported."https://t.co/L4Fkz8uH5i
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 2, 2019

Dude is on video calling Meghan Markle "nasty" and he’s still denying it. This is not just another blatant Trump lie; this is some next level pathological disorder he’s dealing with. https://t.co/rHDibcpMwx
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 2, 2019

Trump Calls on Britain to ‘Walk Away’ if E.U. Does Not Concede to Its Demands via ⁦@katierogers⁩. Another time POTUS visited, he gave an interview to a Murdoch paper and was critical of May – something he had to apologize to her for in person https://t.co/LniNFtjNEz
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 2, 2019

Part of Trump's prep for his state visit: Interviews with two of Murdoch's papers https://t.co/VAQ7NWTDpV
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 1, 2019

All this is consistent w/ my piece on Trump undermining the democratically elected government of the UK https://t.co/tb3lliVsur https://t.co/p0BlR50gwc
— Tom Wright (@thomaswright08) June 1, 2019

What a jerk.
He insults the Royal Family and then he endorses a clown for PM.

Trump tells The Sun: Meghan Markle is 'nasty,' Boris Johnson would do a 'very good job' as Prime Minister @CNN https://t.co/C0NIJajDZy
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) June 1, 2019

Just the mayor of London saying our president is a modern day fascist. https://t.co/nnKHbnX59Z
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) June 2, 2019

Irish officials don’t want to meet with Trump at his golf course

The meeting should not be held at his property.

Irish officials didn’t want to meet with Trump at his golf course in Ireland. Now Trump isn’t sure he wants to make a diplomatic visit to Ireland.https://t.co/p6seBa4TIq
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) May 17, 2019

In what other ways is #Trump trying to weaponize the presidency on behalf of his own economic interests? https://t.co/apqvEtupDq
— EJ Dionne (@EJDionne) May 17, 2019

Trump’s bad Iran policy

He pulled out of the nuclear deal (which Iran has adhered to) but doesn’t have a clue about what to do instead. I hope we are not heading in the direction of sending troops to fight there.

In a normal world, we would ask WH @PressSec why a president who has only reduced US troop presence in the Middle East is serious about this. Is this political saber-rattling or policy? And why don’t America’s own allies buy US intel on Iranian plans to attack US forces? https://t.co/gtjBSBe1lv
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 15, 2019

“Intel/military officials in Europe and US said over the past year, most aggressive moves have originated not in Tehran, but in Washington.

One American official said increased Iranian threat was ‘small stuff’ – goal was to draw Iran into armed conflict” https://t.co/HhtCmUUsnK
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) May 15, 2019

This is complete madness.

Trump cancels a diplomatic deal with Iran—against the advice of Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis, European allies, the International Atomic Energy Agency—and now has drawn up plans to send 120,000 American troops into a new war in the Middle East. https://t.co/a2GtL4vjXb
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) May 14, 2019

It’s hard to take admin claims about Iran at face value. The administration lies at a record-setting pace and Bolton himself was credibly accused of twisting intelligence in the past to justify U.S. action against Iraq and Cuba. My column: https://t.co/QAWWjJbFdQ
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) May 8, 2019

I oversaw Iran policy and planning at the Pentagon from 2009-2011, at the height of concerns over Iran’s nuclear progress, and no plausible contingency except invasion and regime change would require sending 120,000 US forces to the Middle East. https://t.co/tBbpEVzddM
— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) May 14, 2019

Really good point. Frightening but good. https://t.co/QAVUlzjCzF
— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) May 14, 2019

Re-upping, as I may have to do every day:

1) Before the invasion of Iraq, it was obvious that it would be a catastrophic mistake.https://t.co/Zhbck2W4L9

2) Military engagement with Iran would be far stupider, more reckless, and more destructive. https://t.co/U3HLwyOFaj https://t.co/rD9Hlgelu7
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) May 14, 2019

Trump pulled out of the Iran Deal even though Iran was complying, and has been trying to provoke Iran into giving him a pretext for war ever since. He lied to the American people about getting us out of wars, lied about the Iran Deal, and is lying about Iran now
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) May 14, 2019

Trump abandons another treaty

Trump delivers a gift to arms dealers, endangers civilians around the world and isolates the U.S. all for a cheap applause line at the NRA. We live in radical and dangerous times. https://t.co/1tVMCQRNYe
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) April 26, 2019

Trump told an #NRAAM crowd today that he intends to walk away from the 2014 Arms Trade Treaty https://t.co/om3iG2mNnb pic.twitter.com/1Wn2HT6W6y
— POLITICO (@politico) April 26, 2019

'We’re taking our signature back,' Trump announces U.S. withdrawal from U.N. arms treaty at the NRA's annual meeting https://t.co/Lkb1f1h3xD pic.twitter.com/DG6nSJIPUr
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 26, 2019

As reported, Trump announces he will revoke the US signature from the global arms-trade treaty. People cheer. He says he's impressed people here knew what it is. https://t.co/KtBg8LgW55
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) April 26, 2019

.@realDonaldTrump pulling the U.S. out of yet another arms control treaty undermines our national security and makes for a more dangerous world. Leaving the Arms Trade Treaty that limits global trafficking in lethal weapons to get applause from the @NRA is reckless and shameful.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) April 26, 2019

Trump is permanently damaging our foreign policies

News of Trump's illness another blow to U.S. prestige on the global stage, say experts https://t.co/KUNjRgBOST pic.twitter.com/5WKo6voaiW
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) October 2, 2020

Opinion: Trump Isn’t Just Reversing Obama’s Foreign Policies. He’s Killing Them for Goodhttps://t.co/PQDxmgW5jx
— POLITICO (@politico) April 23, 2019

Trump backs a strongman in Libya

He goes against prior policies but he loves those authoritarians who are like him.

President Trump abruptly reversed American policy toward Libya on Friday, issuing a statement that endorsed a militia leader who is battling to control Tripoli and depose the United Nations-backed government. https://t.co/mGuI6IfNPx
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) April 20, 2019

Trump has endorsed Gen. Hafter in Libya, an authoritarian attacking a United Nations backed government.

Just like his reversal of North Korea sanctions weeks ago, Trump’s decision contradicts the statements of his own cabinet.

Bad judgment and incompetence are a toxic mix. https://t.co/FSJmkHWQ3f
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 21, 2019

More than 32,000 displaced since Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli 18 days ago. #Libya https://t.co/D5vwjUT2td
— Mary Fitzgerald (@MaryFitzger) April 22, 2019

Scoop: Trump indicated in phone call with Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar last wk that US supported an assault on Tripoli to depose its UN-backed govt.

In a separate call, Bolton also left Haftar with impression of US green light, sources tell me, @margarettalev, @SameralAtrush
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 24, 2019

Trump and Bolton's indication on phone calls with Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar that US wouldn't object to an assault on Libya's capital represented dramatic turn from public position taken days earlier by Pompeo.
Story with @margarettalev @SameralAtrush https://t.co/lS4Pnv4KOY
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 24, 2019