Conservative commentator and radio talk show host Mark Levin responded to Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) after she blasted President Donald Trump over his response to an attack on key Saudi Arabia oil facilities over the weekend.
In a post on Sept. 15, Trump said the United States is “locked and loaded” to respond to an attack on the oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, pending verification by the kingdom on who was actually behind the attacks.
“Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked,” Trump wrote. “There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!”
Hours later, Gabbard criticized Trump for having to wait for instructions from Saudi Arabia, while using coarse language in her post.
Gabbard’s remarks prompted a response from Levin, the author of the book “Unfreedom of the Press,” who called the presidential hopeful a “clown” for putting the focus on Saudi Arabia rather than on Iran.
“Tulsi Gabbard, another clown. This isn’t about Saudi Arabia, moron. Iran is threatening world’s oil supply, navigable waters, killed hundreds of American soldiers, building ICBM’s for nuclear warheads, threatens to destroy the U.S., etc. you’re unfit to lead our country. You’re a dangerous fool,” he wrote.
This is not the first time Gabbard has used such language to criticize the president regarding Saudi Arabia.
Escalated Aggression
Iran seems to have escalated aggressive actions in the region since the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on much of the Iranian economy.A week later on June 20, Trump said he called off a retaliatory strike at the last minute to prevent loss of life after a U.S. drone was shot down. Instead, he ordered cyber-attacks on Iranian targets, multiple media reported.
Iran subsequently attempted to shoot down a U.S. drone arriving at the scene of the attacks, according to a Fox News report that cited a senior U.S. official.