President Donald Trump is playing with fire in his pronouncements about reviving the use of torture against terrorism suspects. It's not just morally reprehensible; it is illegal and ineffective.

Trump seems intent on bolstering a gung-ho image and fulfilling campaign promises, yet he fails to see the damage his recent pronouncements are causing. He so offended Mexicans with comments about making their country pay for a border wall, President Enrique Pena-Nieto abruptly and unilaterally canceled an imminent visit. It's time for Trump to dial it back.

Trump suggested in an ABC News interview Wednesday that unnamed top intelligence officials want torture reinstated. An impending executive order also could revive CIA interrogation "black sites" abroad. "I've spoken as recently as 24 hours ago, with people at the highest level of intelligence," Trump said. "And I asked them the question: Does it work? Does torture work? And the answer was yes. Absolutely."

Since it's well-established that this president exaggerates and lies, these alleged conversations deserve skepticism. This is a man who initiates state action based on affronts to his ego, such as his decision to launch an investigation into nonexistent vote fraud because he can't believe that he lost the popular vote.

Trump wants to demonstrate toughness on terrorism, but fails to grasp fundamental facts about the intelligence operations now under his command. First is that Trump's top advisers — Defense Secretary James Mattis, CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, among others — are on record opposing waterboarding and other forms of torture.

The president says he's fine with their decision, "but do I feel it works? Absolutely I feel it works."

A 2015 law banned the use of interrogation techniques that go beyond what is allowed in the Army Field Manual. "The president can sign whatever executive orders he likes," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "But the law is the law. We are not bringing back torture in the United States of America."

A 2014 Senate Select Committee report determined that "enhanced interrogation techniques" do not yield actionable intelligence and often prompt torture victims to concoct information they think the interrogator wants to hear, just to make the torture stop.

Torture also sets the worst-possible example for other nations. If America uses it, dictators around the world will claim justification to do likewise. And this country would have no grounds to condemn them, even if Americans are among their victims.

Trump eventually must grasp that feelings aren't as important as fact. He must learn that words count, especially words from the mouth or Twitter feed of the U.S. president. Let's hope he makes this discovery before more damage is inflicted and other leaders go the way of Mexico.

REPRINTED FROM THE ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH