On Tuesday, the network morning shows were delighted by the news that diplomat David Rank had resigned from his post as Acting U.S. Ambassador to China over President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate deal. Anchors touted the departure as “more fallout” from the White House rejecting the environmental agreement and evidence of a “revolt in the foreign service.”
On NBC’s Today, co-host Matt Lauer proclaimed to viewers: “There is some more fallout this morning over President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. David Rank, America’s top diplomat in China, has resigned as a result of that move.” The host eagerly touted Rank’s self-righteousness: “He says he was asked to do something in support of a policy that, quote, ‘as a parent, patriot, and Christian,’ he could simply not do in good conscience.”
Only briefly did Lauer admit that reality was far less dramatic than the sensational headline, namely that Rank was about to be replaced anyway: “Former Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad, President Trump’s pick as U.S. ambassador to Beijing, expected to take up the post a little later this month.” Of the three networks, only NBC made that point in its reporting.
ABC’s Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos hyped Rank’s resignation as a sign that “The President also facing resistance now inside the foreign service.” Correspondent Jon Karl followed:
The number two official at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, a 27-year veteran of the foreign service, has resigned. He said in good faith he could not deliver the message to the Chinese that the U.S. had decided to drop out of the Paris climate agreement. So he has resigned.
Karl concluded that the “resistence” was becoming a rebellion: “So something of a revolt in the foreign service.”
On CBS This Morning, co-host Norah O’Donnell joined the liberal media chorus: “The Washington Post says a senior diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Beijing resigned over President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord.” She gushed: “...he reportedly said that as, quote, ‘a parent, patriot, and a Christian,’ he could not in good conscience play a roll in implementing Mr. Trump’s decision.”
After the President announced his decision to leave the climate deal on Thursday, network reporters completely lost their minds as they openly predicted apocalyptic doom.
Here are transcripts of the June 6 news briefs on the NBC, ABC, and CBS morning shows:
Today
7:11 AM ET
MATT LAUER: There is some more fallout this morning over President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. David Rank, America’s top diplomat in China, has resigned as a result of that move.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Top American Diplomat in China Resigns; David Rank Cites Withdrawal From Paris Climate Agreement]
Rank made the announcement on Monday. He says he was asked to do something in support of a policy that, quote, “as a parent, patriot, and Christian,” he could simply not do in good conscience. Former Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad, President Trump’s pick as U.S. ambassador to Beijing, expected to take up the post a little later this month.
GMA
7:09 AM ET(...)
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: The President also facing resistance now inside the foreign service.
JOHN KARL: Yeah, this is the second time in two days, this is now the latest. The number two official at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, a 27-year veteran of the foreign service, has resigned. He said in good faith he could not deliver the message to the Chinese that the U.S. had decided to drop out of the Paris climate agreement. So he has resigned.
This comes after we heard from the acting ambassador in Great Britain praising the mayor of London at the very time that the President was attacking the mayor of London. So something of a revolt in the foreign service.
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:32 AM ET
NORAH O’DONNELL: The Washington Post says a senior diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Beijing resigned over President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. David Rank was supposed to deliver formal notification of the U.S. intention to leave the pact, but he reportedly said that as, quote, “a parent, patriot, and a Christian,” he could not in good conscience play a roll in implementing Mr. Trump’s decision.
