In an interview with former Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday’s NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer grilled the former cabinet official on wether President Trump was planning to re-invade the Middle East to “steal Iraq’s oil” and commit an “international crime” in the process.
Lauer melodramatically predicted the scenario based on a brief aside from the commander-in-chief during an address to the Central Intelligence Agency on Saturday: “When President Trump went to Langley over the weekend, he made a comment, he said we might get another chance to steal Iraq's oil. He said this, quote, ‘If we kept the oil, we wouldn’t have had ISIS in the first place. The old expression, ‘To the victor belong the spoils.’ We should have kept the oil, but okay, maybe we'll have another chance.’”
Turning to Gates, he fretted: “As the former head of the Defense Department, I want your reaction to that....If the U.S. military were to go in now and try to steal Iraq's oil, wouldn't that be an international crime?” Gates assured him: “I think that's not going to happen.”
At the top the exchange, Lauer demanded Gates defend Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson: “This is the guy you suggested to then-President-elect Donald Trump. Are you worried that as he gets confirmed and moves forward in his job there will always be lingering doubts about him any time he deals with Russia or Putin?”
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In a follow-up question, Lauer pressed: “You know the FBI and the CIA, and some other intelligence agencies are investigating possible improper contact between three of Mr. Trump's former campaign associates....You've got an experienced gut, you were this nation's top spy. Does this make you queasy?”
Wrapping up the segment, he urged Gates one more time to attack the President: “In your book, you write this about important qualities for a leader. You say they have to have the right temperament, they have to keep their ego in check, and they have to treat people with dignity and respect. Having written that, are you confident that Donald Trump will be an effective leader?”
While Lauer was eager to have Gates denounce Trump, back in 2014, the NBC anchor scolded the former Defense Secretary for criticizing Barack Obama. Referring to Gates’s newly released memoir at the time, Lauer worried: “As this criticism is leveled by you in the book of the commander-in-chief, the acting commander-in-chief, at a time when some 40,000 U.S. troops are in harm's way, do you think that by calling him into question at this stage it is either dangerous or dishonorable?”
Here is a transcript of Lauer’s questions to Gates in the January 24 exchange:
7:13 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Robert Gates served as Secretary of Defense under Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, and was the CIA's director under President George H.W. Bush. He’s also the author of the book, A Passion for Leadership. Secretary Gates, good to see you, thanks for coming in.
ROBERT GATES: Thanks for having me.
LAUER: Rex Tillerson was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last night. The vote was 11 to 10 despite some senators' serious concerns about his ties to Russia. This is the guy you suggested to then-President-elect Donald Trump. Are you worried that as he gets confirmed and moves forward in his job there will always be lingering doubts about him any time he deals with Russia or Putin?
(...)
LAUER: Let's stay on Russia for a second. You're very aware of the things Donald Trump has tweeted and said about Russia and Vladimir Putin, calling him a great leader, calling him an asset, saying he wants a closer relationship with him. You four months ago said, “Trump's expressions of admiration for Putin and his authoritarian regime are naive and irresponsible.” And you're also the guy who famously once said, “I looked in Vladimir Putin's eyes and I saw the eyes of a stone-cold killer.” When you met with then-President-elect Trump a couple of months ago, did you personally say those things to him? Did you warn him about Putin?
(...)
LAUER: You know the FBI and the CIA, and some other intelligence agencies are investigating possible improper contact between three of Mr. Trump's former campaign associates. The New York Times goes as far as saying they’re looking at intercepted communications and financial data. You've got an experienced gut, you were this nation's top spy. Does this make you queasy?
(...)
LAUER: Let me move on to the CIA. When President Trump went to the CIA a couple of days ago and stood in front of that wall of stars, which represent the people who gave their lives for this country in the intelligence community and he chose the opportunity to pick a fight with the media and did some self-promoting. Did you feel he was disrespectful to the agency and those people who gave their lives?...Is there still a rift?
(...)
LAUER: When President Trump went to Langley over the weekend, he made a comment, he said we might get another chance to steal Iraq's oil. He said this, quote, “If we kept the oil, we wouldn’t have had ISIS in the first place. The old expression, ‘To the victor belong the spoils.’ We should have kept the oil, but okay, maybe we'll have another chance.” As the former head of the Defense Department, I want your reaction to that.
GATES: Well, I have no clue what he's talking about.
LAUER: If the U.S. military were to go in now and try to steal Iraq's oil, wouldn't that be an international crime?
GATES: I think that's not going to happen.
LAUER: Let me ask you about another comment he made. During his inaugural address, he said, quote, “A new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only America first.” Historic – and you're a student of history – historically speaking, how do you think that sounds to our allies?
(...)
LAUER: In your book, you write this about important qualities for a leader. You say they have to have the right temperament, they have to keep their ego in check, and they have to treat people with dignity and respect. Having written that, are you confident that Donald Trump will be an effective leader?
(...)
LAUER: Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and CIA director, it's great to have you here.
GATES: Thanks very much, Matt, appreciate it.
LAUER: Really appreciate it.
