Iran April 22, 2020

Donald Trump Instructs Navy To “Shoot Down” Iranian Ships

RED SEA - MAY 10: In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Navy, an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Sidewinders" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) May 10, 2019 in the Red Sea. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has been deployed to U.S. Central Command area of responsibility as tensions with Iran have recently escalated. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Singley/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

In a tweet that came without context today, Donald Trump threatened to “shoot down” Iranian gunboats.

I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020

It’s hard to know what sparked this tweet today, but Politico reports, “Trump’s tweet comes one week after the Navy announced that 11 Iranian vessels had conducted “dangerous and harassing” approaches of U.S. ships in the international waters of the northern Persian Gulf, coming as close as 10 yards to a Coast Guard cutter.” It also reportedly came after one of Trump’s favorite networks featured this segment.

Fox & Friends, which Trump watched this morning, had a lengthy discussion of Iran launching a new military satellite about 90 minutes before Trump posted his tweet threatening to shoot down their [squints at notes] boats pic.twitter.com/bvpiPe0xAr
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 22, 2020

While there is reportedly no response from the Navy yet, Reuters reported on the response from Iran:

The United States should focus on saving its military from the coronavirus, an Iranian armed forces spokesman said on Wednesday after Trump’s comments.
“Today, instead of bullying others, the Americans should put all their efforts toward saving those members of their forces who are infected with coronavirus,” Abolfazl Shekarchi said, according to the ISNA news agency.

But the Twittersphere can’t help but question something else about Trump’s tweet. Since when can you shoot down a boat?

Trump is giving the order to shoot down boats.

I didn't realize Iran had flying boats now.
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) April 22, 2020

When the U.S. Navy is done shooting down boats, will it have time to shoot down the flocks of coronavirus?
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) April 22, 2020

How, pray tell, does one "shoot down" a boat? https://t.co/xa4cpZKJPY
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) April 22, 2020

The day After Oil prices plunge to negative, Trump threatens the Iranians.

It' also appears to be a perfect "Wag the Dog" scenario to distract from his failed Covid-19 response.

Not only that but the idiot thinks a "gunboat" is an aircraft that you can "shoot down" apparently. https://t.co/B5krDBuJY4
— Ms. Krassenstein (@HKrassenstein) April 22, 2020