Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned President Trump on Tuesday that if he's going to taunt North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he'd better be ready to act — before poking the bear himself by calling Kim "the rotund ruler in Pyongyang."
McCain made his comments to KTAR News after Trump said North Korea needs to stop threatening the U.S. or "they will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen." "I take exception to the president's comments, because you got to be sure you can do what you say you're going to do," McCain said. "The great leaders I've seen don't threaten unless they're ready to act, and I'm not sure President Trump is ready to act." McCain said he's not certain if Trump wanted North Korea to think he was prepping for military action, because "I've long ago given up trying to interpret what he says. It's not terrible in what he said. It's the classic Trump in that he overstates things."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Who will be the first trillionaire?Podcast Plus, what has the Pope been doing in Asia? And why is ketamine addiction on the rise?
-
The week's best photosIn Pictures A pair of swans, a flooded street, and more
-
Sam Leith picks his favourite children's booksThe Week Recommends The author and journalist chooses works from Nicholas Fisk, Richard Adams and more
-
Netanyahu makes controversial addressSpeed Reads Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress denounced Gaza war protestors
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortionSpeed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents caseSpeed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strikeSpeed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attemptSpeed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF responseSpeed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicalsSpeed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
