President Donald Trump began his first morning of the New Year engaging in one of his preferred activities of the just-passed 2017: firing off online shots about two global trouble spots.
Trump sent out a tweet about Pakistan just after 7 am Monday morning, after attending a New Years’ bash at Mar-a-Lago, where he has been staying over the holidays.
‘The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!’ Trump wrote.
Then about 30 minutes later, the president tweeted about protests in Iran.
Trump said it was ‘time for change’ in Iran and that the country’s people were ‘hungry’ for freedom, after days of deadly protests against the government in Tehran.
US President Donald Trump, shown here at his New Year’s Eve party in Florida, says the Iranian people are “hungry” for freedom
‘Iran is failing at every level despite the terrible deal made with them by the Obama Administration,’ Trump wrote, referring to the nuclear pact sealed under his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.
‘The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!’ Trump added.
Trump has been vocal on Twitter about the protests in Iran since they erupted last week.
‘The world is watching!’ he said, reposting clips of his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September.
‘Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice,’ he tweeted, quoting from the speech.
Video purportedly taken in Isfahan on Sunday night shows dozens of people on the street before what sounds like gunshots are heard
Twelve people have been reported dead during a fourth straight night of protests in Iran, including reports of three people killed in the city of Isfahan
But Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hit back, saying the US leader — whose ‘whole being is against the nation of Iran — had ‘no right’ to sympathize with protesters.
Ten people were killed overnight in Iran, local media reported, bringing the death toll after four days of protests to 12.
Iranian state TV reported the figure Monday, saying security forces repelled ‘armed protesters’ who tried to take over police stations and military bases.
Two people were shot dead in the southwestern town of Izeh while another two died in Dorud after being run over by a stolen fire truck, local news agencies reported.
Donald Trump and Melania greet guests as they arrive at the New Year’s Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago club
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he arrives for a New Year’s Eve gala at his Mar-a-Lago resort with First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron
Elsewhere there were unconfirmed reports that three people were shot dead after security forces opened fire on protesters in Isfahan.
During the annual New Year’s Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago, Trump was joined by family members as he rang in the new year.
Trump promised 2018 will be a ‘fantastic’ year, while telling reporters: ‘Stock market I think is going to continue to go up, companies are going to continue to come into the country.’
His $600-a-head party ($750 for guests) has prompted criticism, with some accusing him of profiting from public office with the ‘very glam’ New Year’s Eve event. Prices went up from last year.