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Instead of threats & over-the-top rhetoric, we need to pursue a smart, long-term strategy to address these growing threats. 2/

— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) August 8, 2017

Dan Pfeiffer, former senior adviser to former President Barack Obama for communications, tweeted multiple times about Trump’s statements. “Don’t gloss over the fact that Trump threatened what can only be interpreted as a nuclear attack on North Korea if Kim Jong-un taunts him,” he wrote.

Don't gloss over the fact that Trump threatened what can only be intrepreted as a nuclear attack on North Korea if Kim Jong-un taunts him https://t.co/EcPE1lzlr5

— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) August 8, 2017

In another tweet, Pfeiffer added that he wanted to know if new chief of staff John Kelly, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, or National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster knew what Trump was going to say about North Korea.

I want to know if Kelly, Mattis, Tillerson, or McMaster knew what was going to come out of Trump's mouth about North Korea

— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) August 8, 2017

Tommy Vietor, former National Security Council spokesman for Obama spoke to the fear reverberating across Twitter of Trump sounding like the North Korean leader. “The President of the United States shouldn’t sound like Kim Jong Un. It antagonizes everyone while accomplishing nothing.”

The President of the United States shouldn't sound like Kim Jong Un. It antagonizes everyone while accomplishing nothing. https://t.co/MXsBRAc1Gd

— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) August 8, 2017

President of the Council on Foreign Relations, Richard Haass said in a tweet that Asia “has been stable for decades,” but that “that could be ending” with the North Korea threat.

Asia/Pacific has been stable for decades; that could be ending w N Korea threat, Japan & S Korea rearming, China push vs India & in SC Sea

— Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) August 8, 2017

Despite the large amount of criticism the announcement received, others showed their support for the president's statement.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson explained to reporters that \"What the President was doing was sending a strong message to North Korea in a language that Kim Jong Un would understand.\" \"It was important that he deliver that message to avoid any miscalculation on their part,\" Tillerson added. He later commented \"Americans should sleep well at night. I have no concerns about this particular rhetoric over the last few days.\"

In an appearance on CBS This Morning Wednesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, appeared to defend Trump's statements in spite of the threat of what he called a \"horrific war.\" \"President Trump has basically drawn a red line, saying he will never allow North Korea to have an ICBM weapon that can hit America with a missile on top,\" Graham said. \"He's going to pick homeland defense over regional stability and he has to.\" When asked if he believed the U.S. was prepared to act, Graham responded \"Oh, absolutely.\"

The chairman of Students for Trump, Ryan Fournier defended Trump’s statement. Fournier tweeted that “President Trump is standing up for the United States,” adding that “North Korea better sit back down.”

President Trump is standing up for the United States. North Korea better sit back down. https://t.co/NfoaAmAoOF

— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) August 8, 2017
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