(Photo Credit: Erin Schaff/The New York Times)

Trump calls off retaliation strike against Iran

On Monday, Iran allegedly shot down a U.S. drone flying in international waters. Days later, President Trump ordered a retaliatory strike on the Islamic regime–but called it off at the last minute.

“On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it,” Trump tweeted. “Not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!”

Trump previously stated he believed Iran shot down the drone “by mistake.” Trump and his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, have also called Iran a “weakened state” and say that U.S. sanctions against Iran are hurting the country enough, and military strikes are unwarranted.

Still, not everyone was happy with Trump’s lack of response to the drone strike–including fellow Republicans. Liz Cheney, a Republican representative from Wyoming, said Trump’s waffling made the U.S. look weak.

“The failure to respond to this kind of direct provocation that we’ve seen now from the Iranians, in particular over the last several weeks, could in fact be a very serious mistake,” Cheney told radio host Hugh Hewitt.