Hugh Hewitt: A perfect first week for President Trump (with a magic sign)

Only President Donald Trump is expecting a successful first week in office. Trump has done the equivalent of hitting 1.000 or hitting 10 for 10 in the NBA. It’s been a great first week for the returning president – with a big sign.

There are several actions and a couple of speeches that I could list as big wins for Trump, including the inaugural address and his vague speech to the Davos crowd, but the most important steps are (1) his statement of goals. All NATO countries have an executive order to limit their defense budgets to 5% of GDP and (2) end DEI in government and those institutions that receive federal dollars.

In the US, the defense increase would mean $1.45 trillion in national security spending compared to the current $886 billion. We must do this to protect ourselves from the gathering tide of a coalition of our enemies: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Trump touts tax cut plans, ‘Make in America’ World Economic Forum

All four countries are ruled by evil governments that exploit their people. Iran is the most obvious malevolent actor among them, and Iran is — right now — trying to kill Americans here at home, including the president himself, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former special envoy for Iran Brian Hook, and others. Anyone on Iran’s target list should have 24/7/365 protection.

Pulling the security of anyone targeted by the enemy government is a weakness in the parade and waving a red flag in front of the mullahs and the IRGC.

Therefore, the star. It’s big. Later in the week, the president and newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio suspended security for Pompeo and others. No reason was given. The president’s supporters, including myself, and most importantly, many senators, were shocked.

Go here for Fox News updates on President Trump’s first 100 days in the White House

First, the threat from Iran to Pompeo, Hook et al is very real and ongoing. When Hussein tried on George HW Bush, even Bill Clinton bombed Saddam Hussein. That was probably Clinton’s strongest season as president. The decision to withdraw security protections from targeted Americans, if not overturned, could be President Trump’s weakest and defining moment, both in terms of if the Iranians try again and succeed.

The consequence of the release of the security detail on the Ayatollah must be that they recognize the incitement – the mockery – and the invitation to strike here. Such an attack would be disastrous for its targets and targets, but also for those who want to prevent war with Iran.

Morning Glory: President Trump has just issued a massive executive order

If the Mullahs and IRGC succeeded, our response would have to be war. Foreign countries may attack our country or our former officials. The same requirement applies to former President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Kerry, although it is not known whether they are on Iran’s hit list.

What are the details of the favorite list? Joe Kent, now chief of staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and slated to lead the National Counterterrorism Threat Center, testified under confidential conditions Friday. When asked by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Kent immediately said “yes.” (The intelligence they were discussing was classified, not Q-and-A, and many people in the room could hear and verify.)

Trump’s second inaugural address was a victory for him and his supporters

So President Trump and Secretary Rubio — both of whom could not have briefed on these ongoing and very specific threats given the time it took to pull security — were very weak for anyone to make this recommendation for any reason.

I can’t believe that if either the President or the Secretary of State got the statement, neither would immediately recover their security and reprimand the Iranians for being denied. Trump and Rubio both understand Iran and how Iran responds to perceived weakness. Extracting security from targets is weak.

The Iranians want to kill everyone involved in the decision to end President Trump and Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on January 3, 2020, before an Iranian general kills many Americans there. Iran has tried more than once to take out people on their payroll, and the crazy theocrats never stop coming to their targets.

Click here for more Fox News commentary

Drawing security from anyone who is a target of an enemy government is a weakness in a rally, and waving a red flag in front of the mullahs and IRGC. God forbid anyone, the former Secretary of State, being attacked, injured or killed by Iran, will forever tarnish the name and legacy of President and Secretary Rubio. It also means immediate and massive retaliation against Tehran, but why not invite attacks or strengthen targets? Does one really want a war with Iran?

The President and Secretary Rubio should condemn anyone in their circle who proposed a resolution that would endanger not only the target, but the entire country, if the killers followed through on their threats.

Hopefully, the president will immediately reverse the State Department order and also address the Iranians in particular: “If you even think about it, I will punish you.” Trump’s “Hell Pays” comment got Hamas’s attention. POTUS and Secretary Rubio need to get the Mullahs’ attention, not send a signal. Restore security details and inform Ayatollahs that there are very bright red lines around past and present targets.

Click here to access the FOX NEWS app

Some have argued that private citizens should pay for their security. That is a stupid and offensive anti-Trump comment. Trump is going to issue several tough orders over the next four years, especially against the cartels. If they doubt that the United States will stand by them and especially their families for the long term, who will issue those orders and organize their execution? Moreover, “personal security” is far less than what our government provides because “personal security” does not know what is coming to the target. Our intel agencies tell federal security details about what’s at work. Private armed guards won’t tell.

Clinton set the benchmark 30 years ago when 23 Tomahawk missiles slammed into downtown Baghdad on June 27, 1993, after Saddam Hussein attempted to assassinate the first President Bush. of that year. Trump shouldn’t want to downgrade, and he certainly doesn’t want to attack Pompeo or others, when America goes to war, or be seen as weak or ill-informed.

Click here to read more from Hugh Hewitt

Hugh Hewitt is the host of “Hugh Hewitt Show“Heard weekday mornings from 6am to 9am ET on the Salem Radio Network and the Salem News Channel. Hugh American on more than 400 affiliates nationwide and on all broadcast platforms where SNC is shown. He is a frequent guest on Fox News Channel’s Brett Baier. Days at 6pm ET on the news table hosted by Ohio State and Harvard College and A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been an adjunct professor of law at Chapman University School of Law, where he has taught constitutional law since 1996. He has written for every major American paper, written for PBS and MSNBC, written a dozen books, and moderated a Republican presidential debate, most recently in November 2023. Republican Hewitt will focus his radio show and column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians during his 40 years on the air, from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump addressed tens of thousands of guests.