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.

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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.