President Donald Trump (Shane T. McCoy / US Marshals)
Donald Trump on Friday escalated the growing rift with Qatar, calling out the country as a sponsor of terrorism after seven Middle Eastern countries severed ties with Doha.
That statement came mere hours after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged “there be no further escalation by parties in the region.”
News that Trump appeared to contradict his own secretary of state stunned the Internet on Friday with users expressing disbelief over the president’s words.
Trump is currently slamming Qatar. Just an hour ago, Tillerson called on Arab countries to ease blockade on Qatar. https://t.co/DMRtSoQ1P8— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1497034969.0
Cannot understate the insanity of Tillerson calling for the end of Qatar blockade followed by this statement by Trump right now.— Paul Blumenthal (@Paul Blumenthal) 1497034832.0
Trump just undercut Tillerson efforts to mediate Qatar dispute— Norm Eisen (@Norm Eisen) 1497035096.0
Someone just hold up a world map and ask Trump where Qatar is, please.— Geraldine (@Geraldine) 1497035209.0
Qatar should really have had a big elaborate reception for Trump when he was in the region.— Philip Bump (@Philip Bump) 1497034929.0
Rex Tillerson after Trump contradicts him on Qatar an hour later after he's scrambled to head off diplomatic crisis https://t.co/jpLXEI7fWi— Jessica Taylor (@Jessica Taylor) 1497036404.0
It looks like Trump and Tillerson have two different Qatar policies.— M. Bilal Kenasari (@M. Bilal Kenasari) 1497035522.0
#Qatar: Even if US trying to play good cop & bad cop, mixed signals from #Trump & #Tillerson only deepening crisis, weakening US credibility— Joyce Karam (@Joyce Karam) 1497035518.0
A Twitter play in four acts. Surprise ending! https://t.co/aYrH1mAb8f— Bradd Jaffy (@Bradd Jaffy) 1497031007.0
Trump last week to Qatar: No friend, supporting terror Tillerson earlier today: Military ally against terror. Trump today: Nope.— ian bremmer (@ian bremmer) 1497035445.0
Trump White House: Qatar is bad Also Trump White House: Stop saying Qatar is bad— Kaili Joy Gray (@Kaili Joy Gray) 1497035097.0
