Over the weekend, President Trump cried “Fake News” over reports that he was willing to meet with Iranian leaders without preconditions for the gathering.
The Fake News is saying that I am willing to meet with Iran, “No Conditions.” That is an incorrect statement (as usual!).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2019
But that’s exactly what he’s vowed, word-for-word, on camera in recent weeks. It’s become such a staple platform for Trump that two of his top administration officials even repeated the line during a press conference last week.
During an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd earlier this summer, Todd asked Trump pointedly if he would meet with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with “no preconditions.”
“Not as far as I’m concerned. No preconditions,” Trump said.
WATCH: Trump tells Chuck Todd that he wants to talk with Iran with “no pre-conditions.” #MTP #IfItsSunday pic.twitter.com/kie0I91ZbA
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 23, 2019
Trump made similar remarks during a press conference in July, when he expressed interest in meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
“I believe in meeting. I would certainly meet with Iran if they wanted to meet. I don’t know if they’re ready yet,” he said. “I’m ready to meet anytime they want to. No preconditions. If they want to meet, we’ll meet.”
President Trump says a meeting with Iran’s President Rouhani could happen with “no preconditions.” Your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/VmJmP3fQv1
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) July 31, 2018
Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reiterated that stance as well last week during a press briefing when both individually said “no preconditions” would be necessary for a meeting with Iran over its nuclear program.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin say President Trump is ready to meet with Iran's leader “without preconditions” https://t.co/5WiqiEpe0V pic.twitter.com/tYSQVN9tpP
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) September 10, 2019
