Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice is unsure of President Trump has the “presence of mind” to navigate “high-risk” talks with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un; saying the Commander-in-Chief should follow prior protocol and assemble a team of career diplomats.
The senior Obama staffer was speaking with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell when she was asked if Trump’s “outsized personality” will have an impact on the upcoming summit between the President and Kim; adding its “unclear if the US has a strategy.”
“I think it’s very risky. It risks the President’s credibility, the credibility of the United States, and worse-still, I think it increases the risk of conflict,” said Rice.
“I think it’s high risk, but I think there are steps we can take if the President is serious…He may not have the temperament to do that,” she added. “I think this is high risk if it’s executed in a typical ‘Trumpian’ fashion. If, however, the President has the presence of mind… to allow this to be done responsibly then I think it’s worth attempting.
Watch Rice’s comments above.
FACE TO FACE: Trump SHOCKS the World, Announces Meeting with KIM JONG UN
President Trump shocked the world Thursday evening; announcing a surprise summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un after the brutal despot pledged to halt his weapons program and meet with an American delegation to discuss full denuclearization.
The surprise announcement came after days of high-level meetings between North and South Korean officials, and a firm pledge from Kim to “freeze” his weapons programs ahead of potential talks with US officials.
“President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization,” said South Korea’s National Security Advisor, adding North Korea will “refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests.”
The President hailed the meeting on social media shortly after the announcement, saying “great progress being made” and “meeting being planned!”
“Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!” he tweeted.
Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2018
Should the summit take place, it would be the first time the leaders of North Korea and the United States meet face to face.
EPIC FAILURE: Susan Rice Admits Obama Totally 'Failed' on North Korea
The former National Security Advisor for Barack Obama publicly admitted this week that his administration’s efforts to curb North Korea’s weapons programs were a total “failure,” adding that the United States now faces a very “unfortunate outcome.”
Susan Rice made the stunning admission while speaking with CNN, saying she agreed with critics that called President Obama and President Clinton’s efforts to stop the communist nation from obtaining nuclear weapons “a failure.”
“You can call it a failure,” Rice said. “I accept that characterization of the efforts of the United States over the last two decades.”
“The fact of the matter is, that despite all of those efforts, the North Korean regime has been able to succeed in progressing with its program, both nuclear and missile,” she added. “That’s a very unfortunate outcome. But we are where we are. And we now need to decide how to proceed.”
The former National Security Advisor penned an op-ed piece in the New York Times Thursday, saying American efforts to stop Kim’s weapons programs were too late and called on President Trump to learn to “tolerate” a nuclear-equipped North Korea.
“History shows that we can, if we must, tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea — the same way we tolerated the far greater threat of thousands of Soviet nuclear weapons during the Cold War,” she wrote.