Chris Murphy: Trump’s threat of war with North Korea must be taken ‘seriously’

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday said President Trump’s rhetoric directed at North Korea must be taken “seriously,” following remarks made by Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) about Trump possibly leading the U.S. on the path toward “World War III.”

{mosads}”It’s time to take Trump seriously as he keeps hinting, over and over, that he wants to go to war with North Korea,” Murphy said in a series of tweets, adding that some of the president’s other tweets have proven to not always be “just bluster.”

THREAD: It’s time to take Trump seriously as he keeps hinting, over and over, that he wants to go to war with North Korea.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 9, 2017 

Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said “many” lawmakers have begun to hear “whispers of more serious war talk in and near the White House.”

6/ Many of us have begun to hear whispers of more serious war talk in and near the White House. “Calm before the storm” comment sent chills.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 9, 2017 

Murphy said Corker may have seriously meant his World War III remark, which he made to The New York Times after getting into a heated exchange with Trump on Twitter.

7/ Timing of Corker’s comments, referencing possibility of World War III, might not be accidental.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 9, 2017

The Connecticut lawmaker called on both Republicans and Democrats to take swift action and put safeguards in place to prevent the president from initiating a “pre-emptive strike” without congressional approval.

Murphy also listed details about the president’s conduct that he views as worrisome, including “surrounding himself with only military men” and dissuading his own Secretary of State Rex Tillerson from engaging in diplomatic talks with Pyongyang.

During his first address to the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump threatened to “totally destroy North Korea.”

Murphy’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Pyongyang.