Trump Threatens North Korea, Thanks Putin for Kicking Out Diplomatic Staff
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Returning now to our top story, escalation in the war of words between President Trump and North Korea. Let's bring in Democratic Congressman Ted Deutsche, of Florida, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman, the president today escalated that rhetoric, the standoff with North Korea, by saying military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely. His words. What kind of message is this strong language sending? Not only North Korea, but also to U.S. allies in the region?</s>REP. TED DEUTSCHE, (D), FLORIDA: Wolf, I think strong language is appropriate. I think dangerous rhetoric, however, is not. When you think about what we need with North Korea, we need diplomacy. We need to show strength, and we need to have pressure. And when the president speaks the way he does in uncertain terms, let's remember, when he talks about, about the possibility of launching a premeditated strike in response to threats from North Korea, that makes it harder for those on his team who are actually doing a good job in advancing our interests at the U.N., where the sanctions resolution, for the first time, really is going to move forward in a strong, powerful way. This makes it really more difficult for the overall effort to succeed. And it leads to the possibility of miscalculation. Nobody believes that the United States should launch a preemptive nuclear strike. Everyone understands what North Korea is capable of now. The goal ought to be to work to lead our allies in one effort throughout the entire administration, to help contain North Korea.</s>BLITZER: Let me get your thoughts on a very sensitive issue. And you're on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Listen to what the president said yesterday when asked about Russia's decision to expel hundreds of American diplomats from the U.S. embassy in Moscow and other U.S. consulates around the country. Listen to this.</s>DONLD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No. I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down on payroll. And as far as I'm concerned, I'm very thankful that he let go of a large number of people, because now we have a smaller payroll. There's no real reason for them to go back. So I greatly appreciate the fact that they've been able to cut our payroll for the United States. We'll save a lot of money.</s>BLITZER: All right. So what was your reaction when you heard that?</s>DEUTSCHE: Well, Wolf, that's astounding coming from the president of United States. But, unfortunately, it's not surprising. Think about what the president did. This, he responded to actions taken by Vladimir Putin in responsible to sanctions that the United States imposed on Russia, because Russia meddled in our election. That response by Russia was to ban 755 U.S. diplomats and the president thanked him for it. It's wholly unacceptable. But unfortunately, Wolf, consistent. This is the president who doesn't value diplomacy. Who wants to cut the State Department budget by a third and hasn't even filled the key roles involving diplomatic security. It's appalling. The president ought to be standing up for the men and women who are serving our country in a different way, in the diplomatic corps, in a very importantly, especially in Russia. Instead, he casts them aside at the same time that he yet again thanks and praises Vladimir Putin. It's really shocking.</s>BLITZER: Some suggested he was being sarcastic in that statement. You don't buy that?</s>DEUTSCHE: I don't believe that we should -- first of all, there's no room for sarcasm there. I don't think we should have to try to interpret whether or not the president was being serious when the president was speaking about the decision by Vladimir Putin to -- to ban over 750 United States diplomats. There is only one correct response from the president of the United States, and that is to make clear that this is unacceptable, and to stand up strongly for those diplomats and for our role in the world, and to push back against Vladimir Putin. The president, unfortunately, again and again and again seems wholly unwilling and unable to take even that basic step.</s>BLITZER: Congressman Ted Deutsche, of Florida. Thanks for joining us.</s>DEUTSCHE: Thanks, Wolf. Appreciate it.</s>BLITZER: Coming up, while President Trump is seemingly giving Russia's Vladimir Putin another pass, he's now talking tough about the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, telling him to go to work. What's behind he's latest attacks on the Republican leader in the U.S. Senate? We'll discuss that and more when we come back.