FOREIGN POLICY/STATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump is better known for speaking directly to his base than trying to win over his critics. But when it comes to selling Trump’s Iran strategy and other foreign policy initiatives, the White House has been blasting out its talking points to an uncharacteristically inclusive list of foreign policy heavyweights — including former Obama administration officials, advisers to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, and critics who have publicly accused Trump of being, across the board, ‘bad at playing president.’ An unusual peek at the White House list of ‘influencers’ came courtesy of communications aide Kelly Sadler, who failed to blind-copy recipients in a May 22 email blast highlighting the administration’s new Iran strategy. The email, reviewed by POLITICO, suggested to its recipients ways to amplify the White House’s message and show support…A White House official explained that the list was put together by the State Department with unofficial input from National Security Council staffers and passed along to the communications shop…But the purpose of Sadler’s list of foreign policy ‘influencers,’ the official said, was to make sure they understood the administration’s perspective, even if they disagreed with it.”
-Annie Karni, “Email snafu reveals White House outreach to Obama and Clinton alumni,” Politico, May 31, 2018 12:02 am