Clean up on aisle 5

President Trump sparked confusion across Washington on Friday by calling off an upcoming round of large-scale economic sanctions against North Korea in a dashed-off tweet.

The announcement underscored a rift with his top aides who have called for a tougher posture toward the isolated regime, as well as a larger breakdown of the White House’s public messaging strategy.

[...]

The source of the confusion was Trump’s reference to “today.” No sanctions had been announced Friday, leading analysts to assume the president was referring to a round of sanctions imposed Thursday by the Treasury Department.

In fact, Trump was referring to a future round of previously unknown sanctions scheduled for the coming days, said administration officials familiar with the matter. The officials declined to specify what those sanctions would entail.

  WaPo

I don't even know if I believe them. It could be true. Trump is fond of getting out in front of everybody else. But it could be they're just trying to save face and act like everything ISN'T a chaotic mess in this administration.

The move to forestall future sanctions represents an attempt by the president to salvage his nuclear negotiations with North Korea in the face of efforts by national security adviser John Bolton and others to increase punitive economic measures against the regime of Kim Jong Un.

[...]

When asked to explain the tweet, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders simply noted that “President Trump likes Chairman Kim, and he doesn’t think these sanctions will be necessary.”

So, did she not know the proper explanation?

Administration officials said Trump is determined to prevent his more hawkish advisers from undercutting what he considers his biggest foreign policy accomplishment: reducing tensions with North Korea and creating the opportunity for a historic deal.

And a Nobel Peace Prize, don't forget.

“Maximum Pressure means sanctioning North Korea’s enablers. Treasury was right — sanctions should be imposed,” Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) wrote on Twitter before it was clear which sanctions Trump had withdrawn.

Others said the incident underscores the dysfunctional nature of the White House’s policy process, which seems driven more by presidential tweets than deliberative collaboration.

It seems that way because it is that way.

“Usually a national security process exists to make policy decisions AND agree on rollout and messaging,” Alyssa Ayres, a former State Department official, said in a tweet.

Not any more, sweetheart.

In the days since the summit, North Korea has begun construction activity at an engine testing site and openly accused Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of creating a hostile environment, charges the two men have denied. After the sanctions announcement Thursday, North Korea withdrew its officials from a liaison office with South Korea. The move was a setback for South Korea’s efforts to normalize relations with the North in tandem with progress on the nuclear negotiations.

Still, Trump has remained fixated on his negotiations with the rogue state, telling senators, visitors and others that he can still make a deal — and that he believes Kim will eventually agree to his demands.

[...]

Trump has sought to project to Kim that while some in his administration are skeptical, he is the ultimate decider and remains eager to reach a landmark agreement, officials said.

“Trump doesn’t want the situation to unravel, and by putting out this tweet, he’s sending a signal directly to Kim that he wants to keep a good working relationship,” said one official familiar with the negotiations.

But the move created confusion Friday as White House and Treasury officials could not immediately explain which sanctions Trump had rescinded.

[...]

Bolton’s differing views on North Korea have not been lost on the president or his staff.

During the summit last month, officials kept Bolton from attending Trump’s dinner with Kim because of concerns that he could hurt the discussions, two administration officials said.

Why in the name of Rocky & Bullwinkle did Trump appoint him to be his NSA?

Treasury experts said the lack of coordination inside the Trump administration sent confusing signals to the market and diminished confidence in the U.S. sanctions regime.

How can anyone have any confidence about anything with this joker in the White House?

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE 3/26:  I knew it.