Former Illinois Republican Congressman Joe Walsh fired off angry tweets for hours Monday, calling President Donald Trump a “traitor” — which conveniently blunted a wave of mockery after he appeared on a comedy series unironically calling to arm four-year-olds with mortars.
Walsh, who began his Twitter tirade as Trump spoke during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, found it egregious that Trump said special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe was partly to blame for poor relations between the United States and Russia instead of the Kremlin’s actions during the election. “Trump just now, in front of the world: The Mueller probe is to blame. Not Russia,” Walsh wrote. “Just despicable.”
Trump just now, in front of the world: The Mueller probe is to blame. Not Russia.
Just despicable.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 16, 2018
The radio host claimed President Trump “won’t stand for his own country,” when asked if he accepts the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia infiltrated the Democratic National Committee’s computer systems. “He won’t answer. But he speaks more favorably of Putin,” fumed Walsh. “That’s it. That should be the final straw. It is for me.”
Trump asked just now who he believes, his own intelligence agencies or Putin.
He won't answer. But he speaks more favorably of Putin. TRUMP WON'T STAND WITH HIS OWN COUNTRY.
That's it. That should be the final straw. It is for me.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 16, 2018
Ratcheting up his criticism, Walsh called the joint press conference between the two leaders “an absolute disgrace,” and not only accused President Trump of committing “treason,” but branded him a “clear [and] present danger to America.” “Republicans can no longer be quiet. I won’t be quiet. I am done with him,” the former lawmaker declared to his nearly 150,000 followers.
This press conference is an absolute disgrace. Trump won't even side with America.
What Trump did today was commit treason. He cannot be supported anymore. He is a clear & present danger to America. Republicans can no longer be quiet.
I won't be quiet. I am done with him.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 16, 2018
Echoing his previous statements on rescinding his support for the Republican president, Walsh said he “cannot [and] will not support a traitor.”
Trump was a traitor today. I cannot & will not support a traitor.
No decent American should.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 16, 2018
“I’ve always tried to balance my personal distaste for Trump with my support for much of the agenda. The good Trump/bad Trump thing,” he added. “After 2day, that dance is over. The bad Trump now clearly outweighs any policy benefits. He is a danger to this country. I can’t straddle anymore.”
I've always tried to balance my personal distaste for Trump with my support for much of the agenda. The good Trump/bad Trump thing.
After 2day, that dance is over. The bad Trump now clearly outweighs any policy benefits.
He is a danger to this country. I can't straddle anymore.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 16, 2018
Walsh’s emotional tweetstorm came just one day after a particularly humiliating episode; he was featured in the debut episode of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s Showtime series Who Is America? participating in a PSA which argues for arming preschool children — “Kinder Guardians” — with military-grade weaponry.
The former congressman tried to minimize his credulous participation before the show aired. “Strangest interview of my life – don’t think they spoofed me very much,” he tweeted.
Days later, Walsh appeared on Showtime endorsing training children aged 4-12 for “pistols, rifles, semi-automatics, and a rudimentary knowledge of mortars.”
The producers then convinced him to say on camera: “In less than a month, a first grader can become a first grenader.”
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