Conservative commentator Mark Levin suggested opposition to President Trump’s decision to kill top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani from Democrats proves “they hate America.”
“It’s unequivocal,” Levin said on his radio program The Mark Levin Show on Monday. “There is no debate. They hate the country because you, the voter, won’t give them power.”
Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani by U.S. forces last week in Baghdad, Iraq. The U.S. government claimed Soleimani was plotting to kill American diplomats and military personnel in the region. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday, “There was a greater risk in inaction.”
The takedown of Soleimani was met with condemnation from most Democrats, some of whom suggested Trump had flippantly attacked a foreign military leader to distract Americans from his impeachment in the House. Wary of more bloody conflict in the Middle East, leading Democrats have said the president needlessly flared tensions with Iran, putting American lives in the region at risk.
“The commander in chief is under full-scale, 24-7 attack by the Democrat Party media,” Levin complained.
Critics have also complained that Trump did not notify Congress before conducting the strike. House Democrats moved to re-introduce a war powers resolution on Monday and have called for hearings into the decision to kill Soleimani. Trump addressed their concern in a tweet Sunday afternoon.
“These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner,” Trump said. “Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!”
These Media Posts will serve as notification to the United States Congress that should Iran strike any U.S. person or target, the United States will quickly & fully strike back, & perhaps in a disproportionate manner. Such legal notice is not required, but is given nevertheless!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 5, 2020
Levin defended Trump, saying he was acting out of “solemn duty” to eliminate a “subhuman cockroach” who is an officially designated terrorist and responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American fighters.
The Iranian government has vowed to avenge Soleimani’s killing, and members of the national parliament chanted, “Death to America,” over the weekend.
“With his departure and with God’s power, his work and path will not cease, and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night’s incident,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.
On Monday, Trump slammed Democrats for hassling him with impeachment instead of helping him address the threat Iran poses to American interests.
“Congress & the President should not be wasting their time and energy on a continuation of the totally partisan Impeachment Hoax when we have so many important matters pending,” Trump said. “196 to ZERO was the Republican House vote, & we got 3 Dems. This was not what the Founders had in mind!”
Congress & the President should not be wasting their time and energy on a continuation of the totally partisan Impeachment Hoax when we have so many important matters pending. 196 to ZERO was the Republican House vote, & we got 3 Dems. This was not what the Founders had in mind!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2020
Democrats are impeaching Trump following the administration’s withholding of military aid to Ukraine and a July 25 phone call during which Trump asked the country’s leader to do him “a favor” and investigate Joe Biden. An intelligence community whistleblower alleged Trump used the aid as a bargaining chip to get an investigation into charges of corruption against the 2020 Democratic front-runner.
A Senate impeachment trial is expected to begin later this month, and the president is slated to give his third State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in early February.
