President Trump speaks at a reception for senators and their spouses in the East Room of the White House on March 28. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
Over the last two weeks, President Trump has attacked Syria without congressional approval, ratcheted up the use of force in Afghanistan with a huge bomb, and moved to reverse the Obama administration's policy of releasing White House visitor logs.
Each of these actions runs completely counter to the views and values once espoused by Trump on Twitter. And they join an amazingly long — and growing — list of old Trump tweets that have become eerily applicable to Trump's own presidency in ways that scream “hypocrisy.”
[VIDEO: Trump's policy flip-flops grow]
Below is a list of events in Trump's presidency and campaign, along with the old tweets that turned out to be rather unfortunate.
THING TRUMP DID: Attacked Syria in response to a chemical weapons attack on its own people
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2013
AGAIN, TO OUR VERY FOOLISH LEADER, DO NOT ATTACK SYRIA - IF YOU DO MANY VERY BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN & FROM THAT FIGHT THE U.S. GETS NOTHING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2013
President Obama, do not attack Syria. There is no upside and tremendous downside. Save your "powder" for another (and more important) day!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2013
THING TRUMP DID: Attacked Syria at a time when his approval rating had dropped
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2012
Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2012
THING TRUMP DID: Struck Syria without congressional approval
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2013
The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria-big mistake if he does not!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2013
What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? Obama needs Congressional approval.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2013
THING TRUMP DID: Reversed the Obama policy of disclosing White House visitors
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2012
Why does Obama believe he shouldn't comply with record releases that his predecessors did of their own volition? Hiding something?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2012
A lot of undecided and independent voters have had enough with Obama’s lack of transparency. I don't blame them.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2012
Why is @BarackObama spending millions to try and hide his records? He is the least transparent President--ever--and he ran on transparency.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2012
All recent Presidents have released their transcripts. What is @BarackObama hiding?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2012
THING TRUMP DID: Dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used by U.S. military on Afghanistan
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2013 and 2011
Let’s get out of Afghanistan. Our troops are being killed by the Afghanis we train and we waste billions there. Nonsense! Rebuild the USA.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2013
When will we stop wasting our money on rebuilding Afghanistan? We must rebuild our country first.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2011
THING TRUMP DID: Blamed Democrats for obstructing his agenda and nominees, despite the GOP controlling Congress
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2012
Obama's complaints about Republicans stopping his agenda are BS since he had full control for two years. He can never take responsibility.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 26, 2012
THING TRUMP DID: Failed in his first legislative effort — the GOP health care bill
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2014 and 2013
Young entrepreneurs – Remember that your first deals are the most important of your career. Win & gain confidence.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2014
Just shows that you can have all the cards and lose if you don’t know what you’re doing.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2013
THING TRUMP DID: Encouraged his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, to seek immunity
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2016
ATTN: @HillaryClinton - Why did five of your staffers need FBI IMMUNITY?! #BigLeagueTruth #Debates
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 10, 2016
THING TRUMP DID: Saw his approval rating drop into the mid-to-high 30s
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2011
@BarackObama has a record low 39% Gallup approval rating. Why so high?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2011
THING TRUMP DID: Held campaign rallies, traveled to Florida and golfed repeatedly during his first three months as president
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2014 and 2016
We pay for Obama's travel so he can fundraise millions so Democrats can run on lies. Then we pay for his golf.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2014
Historic Change! Obama has spent over $44M of our money on travel expenses, the most for any president http://t.co/cOu4hHarD4
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 7, 2014
Looking at Air Force One @ MIA. Why is he campaigning instead of creating jobs & fixing Obamacare? Get back to work for the American people!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2016
THING TRUMP DID: Played golf with celebrities and friends
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2012 and 2013
Obama should play golf with Republicans & opponents rather than his small group of friends. That way maybe the terrible gridlock would end.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2012
Via @DailyCaller: "Donald Trump: Obama should golf w/ Republicans, not his ‘local friends’" http://t.co/4y6IfSi4bn by @NicholasBallasy
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2013
I don't mind that @BarackObama plays a lot of golf. I just wish he used it productively to make deals with Congress!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 18, 2012
THING TRUMP DID: Supported a health care bill that the Congressional Budget Office said would reduce the number of Americans with health insurance by 24 million in 2026
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2014
It’s Thursday. How many people have lost their healthcare today?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2014
THING TRUMP DID: Won because of the electoral college, while losing the popular vote
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2012
The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 7, 2012
THING TRUMP DID: Avoided many intelligence briefings during his presidential transition period
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2012
Fact--Obama does not read his intelligence briefings nor does he get briefed in person by the CIA or DOD. Too busy I guess!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2014
THING TRUMP DID: Was named TIME magazine's person of the year
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2011, 2013, 2015
The Time Magazine list of the 100 Most Influential People is a joke and stunt of a magazine that will, like Newsweek,soon be dead. Bad list!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2013
I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite They picked person who is ruining Germany
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2015
So biased: @TIME made 'The Protester' as the person of the year. @TIME celebrates OWS but vilified the Tea Party last year.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 15, 2011
THING TRUMP DID: Dismissed questions about his business conflicts of interests
WHEN TRUMP TWEETED THAT WAS BAD: 2013
"In the general course of human nature, a power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will." - Alexander Hamilton
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 14, 2013
