Richard Spencer

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

🧵on Trump, Iran, the Saudis, and Russia — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

A new wrinkle might emerge as, presumably, the GOP retakes the House and maybe even the Senate. McCarthy has suggested halting aid to Ukraine to repel the Russian attack. Might this come in return for a renewed "wedge" being placed between Russia and Iran? — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Russia seems the big loser. It failed to improve relations with Washington under Trump, and assets like Michael Flynn were expelled early on. Russia added to the chaos in America, but ultimately didn't weaken Washington's commitment to NATO and its expansion. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

That is speculation ... but the pieces seem to fit together. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

I am not the only one to suggest a possible quid-pro-quo in the Saudi's massive investment in Kushner, which occurred over protests of analysts in the sovereign wealth fund. Might this have been a payment for access to the Iran documents Trump stole and stored at Mar-a-lago? — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Trump's relationship to the Saudis and UAE seems stronger than ever. Trump hosted a Saudi golf tournament at his resort, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered a $2 billion investment in Jared Kushner's dubious hedge fund venture. https://t.co/2WavHZ9YW2 — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

What is the status of the prospective "wedge" between Moscow and Tehran? Iran abstained from voting to condemn Russia at the UN over its invasion of Ukraine. And recently, Iran has been supplying "kamikaze drones" to Russia in its efforts. So that relationship seems back on. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

The reality is that the rapprochement with Russia, to the degree it existed at all under Trump, was to use Russia as a player in an assault on Iran, the mutual bugbear of the American Right, UAE-Saudis, and, most importantly, Israel. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

We often project ideological fantasies and hopes and fears onto the U.S.-Russia relationship. It was about Trump as a "Manchurian candidate" in the Russiagate hysteria or Trump as a Kennan-like "realist" or Trump and Putin uniting in a global fascist axis, etc. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Outside Trump's suspicious and weird personal relationships with Putin and other officials, he was, arguably, less accommodating to Russia than Obama, Clinton, and 2021 Biden. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Interestingly, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Biden had actually lifted Trump-era sanctions against Russia, most notably against the company producing the Nord Stream pipeline. https://t.co/6s1x7A3Gmb — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

The "back channel" between Washington and Moscow didn't seem to amount to much. Trump's "pro-Russian" policy was mostly personal and (likely) superficial: inviting the foreign minister into the White House; taking Putin's word that Russia didn't hack the DNC servers, etc. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Needless to say, whatever infatuation Trump might have had for Russia paled in comparison to his dedication to Israel, and his strong relationship with the Saudis and UAE. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Trump's good feelings towards Russia seem to be instinctive and personal. But when the rubber hit the road, Russia was mostly seen by Trump (or, more accurately, people around Trump) as a useful player that could be directed against Iran, the enemy of Israel and the Saudis/UAE. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Trump was devoted to Israel throughout his term, according to him, he's more Zionist than the Jews themselves. And immediately upon being elected, he stood before a spooky glowing orb with the UAE's tight allies, Saudi Arabia. https://t.co/zN95eJWFhK — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

The Iran Nuclear Agreement was "the worst deal in history" according to Trump. And he eventually scrapped it. Though Trump didn't start any new wars, he came very close vis-à-vis Iran. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

In 2016, Trump presented himself as a "realist" or even as "antiwar." To this day, he rages against America's "forever wars" and "the neocons." It's notable that, despite this talk, Trump was obsessed with Iran in a way that very much resembled the neocons and Dick Cheney. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Moscow would end its long-standing relationship with Tehran in exchange for more preferable treatment by Washington. Russia would become indifferent to hostilities towards Iran (perhaps even supportive of them). — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

This clandestine meeting was about establishing a "back channel" between Moscow and Washington, which was apparently never used (?). This meeting becomes more interesting when it's revealed that its motive was to "drive a wedge between Moscow and Tehran." — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

In January 2017, there was a meeting in the Seychelles, off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, between Eric Prince (presumably Trump's ambassador), the prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and a Russian official close to Putin. https://t.co/nrwhAIvAd9 — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

While none of this is terribly surprising, a certain kind of geopolitical "deal" seemed to materialize after Trump won. (It's unlikely that Moscow thought Trump would win, but they expected him to damage Clinton, the likely next president, and generally drive America insane.) — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

That said, I don't think Russia was motivated solely (or probably at all) by the prospect of a "tough but fair" patriot in the White House. Russia viewed Trump, correctly, as inspiring division and chaos. Moreover, Trump's comments on NATO could be demoralizing to the alliance. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Avoiding any "Russiagate" hysteria, it's safe to say Trump was Moscow's preferred candidate in 2016. Trump returned the love, and, to be fair, much of what he said was reasonable and "realist": Why not get along with Russia? Why aren't NATO countries paying their fair share? etc. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

I don't quite know what to make of the China-related material. But might the Iran documents tell us something about the dynamics at play with regard to Trump, Iran, the Saudis and UAE—and, yes, Russia? — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Yesterday, we learned that the most significant documents Trump held onto in Mar-a-lago relate to Iran's missile systems and China. https://t.co/CjDsxaXkmu — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

RT @whyvert: A baby bump is happening. Cautiously optimistic that the advent of remote work makes it much easier for educated women to co… — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

My Midterms prediction: the ultimate "mixed bag" https://t.co/cn1qTh8tPn https://t.co/Gtwi8x0xHW — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Whites aren't so much "gullible" as they are actively desiring to be scammed. They want to believe. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

Secondly, the "We Build The Wall" scam was so brazenly criminal, I'm genuinely shocked that anyone would take him seriously afterwards. I should have remembered this certain White infatuation with evangelical preachers, charlatans, and snake-oil salesmen. — PolitiTweet.org

Richard Spencer @RichardBSpencer

In a way, I'm surprised that Bannon could accomplish this. Back in 2017, he was fired for disrespecting Trump to various journalists and authors, even floating the use of the 25th amendment. (Perhaps he imagined himself taking over MAGA in Trump's place?). — PolitiTweet.org