Donald Trump’s irresponsible, reckless, and deceptive behavior is becoming so dangerous that it’s now a present threat to national security. This time, Trump’s lies almost started a nuclear war.
On April 9, the Navy announced that the USS Carl Vinson strike group, including the carrier and two guided missile destroyers, was ordered to “sail north and report on station in the Western Pacific Ocean.”
Following the Navy’s announcement, the White House told reporters that the deployment of the group of ships was a “necessary” show of force because of North Korea’s recent behavior, which included a failed missile test. President Trump went on to say he was “sending an armada” to counter the North Korean threat.
However, that was a lie. A dangerous lie. The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that the Trump said was steaming toward North Korea was actually conducting exercises off the coast of Australia, a U.S. defense official revealed Tuesday.
The move prompted a strong rebuke by North Korea, which told CNN in a statement that it would counter the “reckless acts of aggression” with “whatever methods the US wants to take” and was preparing for “thermonuclear war.”
But a Navy photograph posted online Saturday showed the Carl Vinson in the Sunda Strait near Indonesia, providing the first clues that the ship was not where Trump had said.
The Carl Vinson strike group is currently off the northwest coast of Australia after conducting exercises with the Royal Australian Navy for the past three days and is heading north toward the Sea of Japan, the defense official said.
U.S. Aircraft carrier Carl Vinson transits the Sunda Strait on April 15. | U.S. Navy
Defense News first reported that the ship was not near North Korea on Monday night. The Washington Post and New York Times also reported on the confusion, which The Times said stemmed from a premature announcement of the deployment from the Navy and a false statement from president Trump.
The White House had no comment, referring questions to the Pentagon. The Pentagon directed all queries to U.S. Pacific Command, which did not immediately have a response.
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