White House mum over Trump’s cryptic ‘calm before the storm’ message

While taking photos alongside military leaders and their spouses before a Thursday night dinner at the White House, President Donald Trump cryptically stated reporters were seeing “the calm before the storm.”

“You guys know what this represents? Maybe it’s the calm before the storm,” Trump said, following a meeting with his top military commanders.

On Friday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders declined to elaborate on what, specifically, the President meant.

“As we have said many times before … we’re never going to say in advance what the President’s going to do, and as he said last night in addition to those comments you’re going to have to wait and see,” she said when asked by reporters if he was referring to military action.

Pressed further on how seriously the public and adversaries should take his comments, Sanders replied: “I think you can take the President protecting the American people always extremely serious. He’s been very clear that that’s his number one priority, and if he feels action is necessary, he will take it.”

Throughout Friday’s briefing, Sanders continually reiterated the White House’s message that the administration does not share its actions ahead of time.

“He certainly doesn’t want to lay out his game plan for our enemies,” Sanders said.

On Thursday, when reporters asked the President what he meant after his initial comment, Trump replied: “It could be, the calm, the calm before the storm.”

Reporters asked if the storm was related to Iran or ISIS.

Trump replied: “We have the world’s great military people in this room, I will tell you that. And uh, we’re gonna have a great evening, thank you all for coming.”

When asked again what he meant, Trump said only: “You’ll find out.”

Speaking to reporters during his visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Friday, Vice President Mike Pence was asked about Trump’s remark and referred reporters to the White House “on any exposition on that comment.”