Ahead of President Trump’s decision on whether the U.S. would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, on Tuesday, all three network morning shows hyped how “European allies have desperately tried” to lobby in favor of the Obama-era agreement. Hosts and correspondents also warned of dire consequences if America left the deal, predicting everything from higher gas prices to Iran getting a nuclear weapon.
“Decision day. President Trump expected to announce today he is withdrawing the U.S. from the controversial Iran nuclear deal, a move that could anger key allies and impact how much you pay for gas,” co-host Hoda Kotb fearfully proclaimed at the top of NBC’s Today show. During a later report, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell bemoaned that the President was “Ignoring a parade of foreign leaders pleading to save the deal, Macron of France, Merkel of Germany, and a last-minute appeal from Britain’s top diplomat, Boris Johnson.”
Moments later, she highlighted their doomsday predictions: “The Europeans say if President Trump slaps Iran with sanctions today, it will start a chain reaction. Foreign companies will back out of deals with Iran, a major oil producer, oil prices will surge, and Iran could restart its nuclear program.”
Mitchell lamented that “the President and his new National Security Adviser John Bolton seem more in sync with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu” in their opposition to the deal.
Just one week earlier, Mitchell dismissed Netanyahu’s recent presentation revealing Israeli intelligence that Iran was deceitful about the status of its nuclear weapons program at the time the deal was negotiated in 2015.
On ABC’s Good Morning America, Senior White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega declared: “European allies have lobbied him hard, fearful that if the U.S. pulls out it might give Iran the incentive to leave this deal, too, and essentially rebuild its nuclear program.” After reminding viewers of French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent state visit, she added: “The Brits made a last-ditch effort recently, even sending someone on to Fox News to make the case in hopes that President Trump might hear them.”
Wrapping up the report, Vega worried that U.S. withdrawal would upset Iran: “Now, the President this morning appears all but ready to pull out of this deal. And, Robin, Iran has threatened grave consequences for anyone who, quote, ‘betrays the deal.’”
“European allies have desperately tried to change President Trump’s mind, but they don’t believe it worked. One diplomat tells CBS News the chance of this agreement staying intact is, quote, ‘very small,” correspondent Weijia Jiang disappointedly told viewers on CBS This Morning. She later noted: “European leaders have lobbied the President in person to uphold the accord. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Washington on Monday, even appearing to reach out to the President on Fox & Friends.”
A soundbite followed of Johnson pleading with the President: “But you can’t do that without just throwing the baby out with the bath water, without scrapping the whole thing.”
Meanwhile, only NBC’s Today show made any mention of Trump accusing former Secretary of State John Kerry engaging in “possibly illegal” “shadow diplomacy” by meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif to discuss the nuclear agreement. An action that could be interpreted as a violation of the Logan Act. Mitchell provided just seconds to the controversy:
Now Mr. Trump slamming former Secretary of State John Kerry for meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif recently, lobbying to save the deal they negotiated in 2015. And responding to reports of that meeting between Kerry and Zarif, the President tweeted yesterday, “The United States does not need John Kerry’s possibly illegal shadow diplomacy. He was the one that created this mess in the first place!” A spokesman for Kerry says, “Every American would want every voice possible urging Iran to remain in compliance with a nuclear agreement that prevented a war.”
Notice that she avoided actually discussing the Logan Act itself, despite the network previously hyping similar allegations against former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. On Monday, the NBC and ABC evening newscasts skipped the topic completely, with only CBS Evening News citing Trump’s tweet about Kerry, without providing context.
If the President does announce his intention to withdraw from the Iran deal on Tuesday, viewers can expect even more hyperventilating from the liberal media.
Here is a full transcript of Mitchell’s May 8 report on NBC’s Today show:
7:08 AM ET
HODA KOTB: Meantime, it is decision day at the White House, will President Trump follow through on his threat to pull the U.S. out of the landmark Iran nuclear deal. He’ll make that announcement later this afternoon and the world will be watching. We have complete coverage, starting with NBC’s Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell. Hey, Andrea, good morning.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Good morning, Hoda. It’s been President Trump’s number one foreign policy priority, to rip up the Iran deal on day one. Today, on his 474th day in office, he’s expected to reimpose sanctions on Iran, doing just that.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump to Reveal Iran Deal Decision; World Waits on Key Announcement]
The President calls it “catastrophic,” “insane,” the worst deal ever made. Because it expires in 2025 and does not ban Iran’s missiles or support for terrorism.
DONALD TRUMP: It’s a bad deal.
MITCHELL: Ignoring a parade of foreign leaders pleading to save the deal, Macron of France, Merkel of Germany, and a last-minute appeal from Britain’s top diplomat, Boris Johnson. Arguing the deal, negotiated under President Obama, got rid of 95% of Iran’s nuclear weapons fuel, permits U.N. inspections, more than 400 so far. In return, Iran got relief from sanctions. The Europeans say if President Trump slaps Iran with sanctions today, it will start a chain reaction. Foreign companies will back out of deals with Iran, a major oil producer, oil prices will surge, and Iran could restart its nuclear program.
But the President and his new National Security Adviser John Bolton seem more in sync with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Iran lied.
MITCHELL: Who a week ago unveiled hundreds of thousands of files documenting Iran’s former nuclear research, known to the west since 2007, but Israel argues, stunning proof of Iran’s past deceit.
Now Mr. Trump slamming former Secretary of State John Kerry for meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif recently, lobbying to save the deal they negotiated in 2015. And responding to reports of that meeting between Kerry and Zarif, the President tweeted yesterday, “The United States does not need John Kerry’s possibly illegal shadow diplomacy. He was the one that created this mess in the first place!” A spokesman for Kerry says, “Every American would want every voice possible urging Iran to remain in compliance with a nuclear agreement that prevented a war.”
The President is scheduled to announce that decision later this afternoon at the White House. Hoda and Savannah?
KOTB: Alright, Andrea Mitchell. Andrea, thank you.
