President Trump’s tweets about the protests in Iran are being used by the Iranian government to undermine the protests.
President Trump’s tweet on 1 January 2018
“Iran is failing at every level despite the terrible deal made with them by the Obama Administration. The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!”
In an editorial in The Tehran Times, the Iranian government makes the following statement:
“These violent protestors and Trump, who should now be considered allies, are derailing the demands of people for better living standards and transparency. Some of the protestors who are turning rallies into violent scenes are knowingly or unknowingly dancing to the tune of Trump, his inner circle, and the envious Saudi prince who is wishing Iran to degenerate into chaos.”
Such a connection was likely inevitable, but the visibility of the President’s tweets will now undoubtedly be used to delegitimize the protesters. Calling for regime change in Iran as the Tweet suggests will be used by the Iranian government to characterize the protests as an American plot.
The same is true of President Trump’s Tweets about North Korea. On 3 January, President Trump tweeted:
“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.’ Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”
At the very time that the US is trying to persuade Kim Jong-un to halt the testing program, the US President casts doubt on the North Korean capabilities. One could not imagine a more counterproductive move under the circumstances.
World Politics News 
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