Mike Pence's chief of staff improbably claims Trump's 'locked and loaded' tweet refers to energy independence

After President Trump's tweet that the U.S. is "locked and loaded" following drone attacks on a Saudi Arabia oil site, one White House official is suggesting we take that phrase seriously, but not literally.
Marc Short, Vice President Mike Pence's Chief of Staff, claimed Monday in response to questions about Trump's tweet that "locked and loaded is a broad term and talks about the realities that we're all far safer and more secure domestically from energy independence," CNN reports.
Short, CNN notes, seemed to be indicating that Trump wasn't necessarily referring to military action with his tweet, in which he said there "is reason to believe that we know the culprit" of the attack and that the U.S. is "locked and loaded depending on verification" and just waiting to "hear from the Kingdom" before proceeding.
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.
Despite Trump not mentioning it in his tweet, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has already blamed Iran, and Short said Monday there is "certainly greater evidence" that Pompeo will share that "directly ties these attacks to Iran."
Short also spoke about Trump's tweet in a Fox Business interview Monday morning, in which he again contended that the phrase "locked and loaded" actually means "several things," including that "America today under this president is far better prepared to handle these sorts of events because we're now a net exporter of oil." Asked directly whether a military response is possible, Short wouldn't comment.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Google avoids the worst in antitrust ruling
Speed Read A federal judge rejected the government's request to break up Google
-
Colleges are being overwhelmed with active shooter hoaxes
In the Spotlight More than a dozen colleges have reported active shooter prank calls
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges