Thread by @RiegerReport

MIKE PENCE says TRUMP has directed him and ROBERT O’BRIEN to lead delegation to Turkey:

“The United States of America wants Turkey to stop the invasion, to implement an immediate ceasefire and to begin to negotiate with Kurdish forces in Syria to bring an end to the violence."

STEVEN MNUCHIN says the U.S. has sanctioned the Turkish ministers of defense, energy and interior as well as the ministries of defense and energy:

“[Trump] is prepared to remove these sanctions if there is the necessary actions on Turkey’s point."

REPORTER: What did the president authorize in his conversation initially with President Erdogan a week ago on Sunday? … What did Erdogan say in response to [the ceasefire request]?

PENCE: The United States of America did not give a green light to Turkey to invade Syria.

PENCE on ERDOGAN’s scheduled meeting at the White House next month:

“There’s been no decision made about [the] scheduled meeting next month.”

Pence demurs when asked if the meeting is still on the table.

Turkish officials sanctioned:

- Hulusi Akar, Turkish Defense Minister
- Fatih Dönmez, Turkish Energy Minister
- Suleyman Soylu, Turkish Interior Minister

Turkish entities sanctioned:

- Ministry of Energy
- Ministry of Defense

treasury.gov/resource-cente…

TRUMP letter to Congress:

"I have issued an Executive Order declaring a national emergency due to the situation in and in relation to Syria, and in particular the recent actions by the Government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria."

TRUMP cont.:

“… actions by Turkey undermine the campaign to defeat the Islamic State … endangers civilians, and further threatens to undermine the peace, security, and stability in the region, and thereby constitute [a] threat to the national security … of the United States."

TRUMP’s order also re-raises tariffs on Turkish steel to 50 percent.

In May, Trump halved tariffs on Turkish steel to 25 percent.

washingtonpost.com/politics/trump…

Oct. 6:

"Trump spoke with President Erdogan by telephone. Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria.”

Oct. 14:

“Recent actions by Turkey undermine the campaign to defeat the Islamic State … [and threaten U.S.] national security"

Trump’s team is adamant he didn’t greenlight Turkey’s Syria invasion.

He sure seemed to imply it.

washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/…

TRUMP says MIKE PENCE and MIKE POMPEO are leaving for Turkey tomorrow:

“We’re asking for a ceasefire. We’ve put the strongest sanctions that you can imagine — but they get a lot — we have a lot in store if they don’t have an impact, including massive tariffs on steel."