WASHINGTON — President Trump said Friday that his defense secretary’s opposition to torture would override his own belief that enhanced interrogation “does work,” addressing concerns about a return to Bush-era use of waterboarding and other especially harsh procedures.
Trump, joined by British Prime Minister Theresa May at a White House news conference, also said he had had a “very good call” with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto earlier in the day but reaffirmed his belief that Mexico has “outnegotiated and beat us to a pulp” on trade — and that would change.
“We’re no longer going to be the country that doesn’t know what it’s doing,” Trump declared.
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
WASHINGTON — President Trump said Friday that his defense secretary’s opposition to torture would override his own belief that enhanced interrogation “does work,” addressing concerns about a return to Bush-era use of waterboarding and other especially harsh procedures.
Trump, joined by British Prime Minister Theresa May at a White House news conference, also said he had had a “very good call” with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto earlier in the day but reaffirmed his belief that Mexico has “outnegotiated and beat us to a pulp” on trade — and that would change.
“We’re no longer going to be the country that doesn’t know what it’s doing,” Trump declared.
Two issues — whether Trump would allow the use of torture and the U.S.-Mexico relationship — dominated the new president’s brief news conference after his first meeting with another world leader.
Since taking office, Trump has signaled a renewed embrace of torture in the fight against Islamic extremism. But he said he would defer to the views of his defense secretary, James Mattis, who has questioned the effectiveness of such practices as waterboarding, which simulates drowning.
Read the whole story from Military Times.
Featured image courtesy of Yahoo News.
Luigi Mangione, Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder, Held in Custody in PA
Inside Delta Force: America’s Most Elite Special Mission Unit
Navy SEALs To Rally Behind Pete Hegseth in a March on Washington
Head Coast Guard Chaplain Removed Due To Knowledge of Sexual Misconduct
What Assad’s Downfall Means for Syria and the Middle East
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.