Instead of recognizing the folly of linking maximalist goals with “maximum pressure” sanctions, the U.S. has retained both while dismissing engagement as a waste of time.
Even if Trump never really meant any of his asinine "fire and fury" rhetoric, it is easy to see how this talk could paint him into a corner, especially as Team D was more interested in scoring points at the expense of Trump and Team R than in the national interest.
You can't blame Trump for thinking he could get away with blaming the Chinese. He told flagrant lies about the 2020 election, culminating in the Capitol breach, and three quarters of self-identified Republicans now tell pollsters that they believe those lies. From his perspective, he can say any arbitrary thing, and many, many, many people will believe him.
I had great hope in President Moon Jae-in's sense of decency and diplomacy. As per usual, we undermine such statesman.
Even if Trump never really meant any of his asinine "fire and fury" rhetoric, it is easy to see how this talk could paint him into a corner, especially as Team D was more interested in scoring points at the expense of Trump and Team R than in the national interest.
Team R is equally cynical, FWIW.
You can't blame Trump for thinking he could get away with blaming the Chinese. He told flagrant lies about the 2020 election, culminating in the Capitol breach, and three quarters of self-identified Republicans now tell pollsters that they believe those lies. From his perspective, he can say any arbitrary thing, and many, many, many people will believe him.