Trump rips WSJ editorial warning him not to be ‘impulsive’ on Afghanistan

President Trump slammed the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board on Monday, a day after it warned him against being “impulsive” when making decisions on Afghanistan.

“The Wall Street Journal Editorial states that it doesn’t want me to act in an ‘impulsive’ manner in Afghanistan. Could somebody please explain to them that we have been there for 19 years, and while soldier counts are way down now, hardly impulsive,” the president tweeted to his 80 million followers.

“Besides, the Taliban is mixed about even wanting us to get out,” Trump added. “They make a fortune $$$ by having us stay, and except at the beginning, we never really fought to win. We are more of a police force than the mighty military that we are, especially now as rebuilt. No, I am not acting impulsively!”

The Wall Street Journal Editorial states that it doesn’t want me to act in an “impulsive” manner in Afghanistan. Could somebody please explain to them that we have been there for 19 years, and while soldier counts are way down now, hardly impulsive. Besides, the Taliban is…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2020

…..mixed about even wanting us to get out. They make a fortune $$$ by having us stay, and except at the beginning, we never really fought to win. We are more of a police force than the mighty military that we are, especially now as rebuilt. No, I am not acting impulsively!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2020

The Journal editorial board wrote on Sunday that the Taliban know Trump is “eager” to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan before Election Day so that he can declare “a diplomatic victory.”

“But that gives the Taliban an incentive to bide their time in the hope of goading Mr. Trump to do something impulsive,” the board wrote.

The U.S. has maintained a troop presence in Afghanistan since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The Trump administration has announced a drawdown of approximately 4,000 troops in Afghanistan, leaving between 8,000 and 9,000 U.S. military personnel in the country.

The president has clashed with the Journal in recent months, including in April when the publication ripped his coronavirus task force briefings as time “wasted” on scoring political points and being “off-key” in tone. The Journal also argued that Trump should cede the briefings to Vice President Pence, who leads the task force.

“The Wall Street Journal always ‘forgets’ to mention that the ratings for the White House Press Briefings are ‘through the roof,'” Trump tweeted at the time.

The Wall Street Journal always “forgets” to mention that the ratings for the White House Press Briefings are “through the roof” (Monday Night Football, Bachelor Finale, according to @nytimes) & is only way for me to escape the Fake News & get my views across. WSJ is Fake News!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 9, 2020