If you were a stockholder of a company whose board of directors had installed a CEO who spent most of his time dealing with past and present legal problems, then I think you'd be seriously considering selling that stock. Trump has done the opposite of almost everything he has promised to do. He is spending all his time and energy fighting legal battles that do nothing to advance the interests of the US. And as a result, the world is finding it can get along without the US. Certainly this is happening in Asia and in large swaths of South America.
What we are seeing is modern remake of "The Madness of King George III". The Donald, like King George, shows the signs of slipping into dementia. In a way you can't blame the Republican for electing him since it is becoming more difficult to tell the difference between dementia and Republican ideology.
26
In addition to the self-incriminating content, yesterday’s performance was noteworthy for its dominant tone of rage. Trump never hesitates to act out his anger but there was something frantic, something bordering hysteria in his voice that I had never before heard. It made me think that he was on something.
Then I thought of one of the other Trump headlines this week – Dr. Ronny and his 24/7 candy store. Now, we know that Trump isn’t much of an Ambien guy, but one of Dr. Ronny’s other delicacies is an insomnia causing stimulant called Provigil. Bingo.
9
GOP Congress were you watching that? And that was ok with you? The world is watching you (GOP). They already know about Trump.
11
If Cohen had any thought of not flipping on Mafia Don, surely that went out the window after yesterday's telephone rant on Rupert Murdoch's Fox "News". Mafia Don would even throw Melania, Don, Jr., Ivanka or Barron under the bus if it meant saving his own skin.
12
Wow—I finally spent a painful 30 minutes listening to it on YouTube. I bet those hosts were doing some day drinking after that. I would say “that’s when it got weird” about the last few minutes, when they asked him to grade his term so far, but the whole thing was so weird—I guess that’s when it got super-weird. “This terrible cloud..and nobody looks at them...and this terrible cloud, this witch hunt...A+!!” And they thought there were somehow going to gracefully wrap it up.
He actually called his supporters “fans”. The man still thinks he’s a TV host.
They hinted that they would continue taking calls like this and as stressful as it would be, I think they would love it because it might increase viewers—I might even tune in to see it. But his “many many” lawyers have probably already put the kibosh on that.
12
Under the bus you go.
7
In the end, Twitter will bring Trump down.
10
Trump’s current behavior reminds me of some of the paranoid patients we saw at Unit 3 of LA County General Hospital.
10
I just wish we could have seen the expression on Trump's face a few seconds after the show's host cut him off mid-rant like that.
It must have been truly priceless!
7
Wouldn't "Trump Attempts to Distance Himself From Cohen's Legal Troubles" be a more appropriate headline?
3
Echoing the Ford-era Post headline: "Trump to Cohen: Drop Dead."
7
We're certainly living in an alternate reality - one in which a complex society of over 300 million people armed with nuclear weapons is being "led" by an unstable narcissistic lunatic.
It is also frustrating that the NYT and other continue to soft-pedal presidential lying, the direct admission of which should have led this story.
13
I think China should have into trump's accountants files . Find the last seven years of his Taxes and give them to Wikileaks to release just before the 2020 election.
It's all good right Republicans?
8
A medical board of professionals should review Dr. Jackson's treatment of his most famous patient.
Are the fits, rages, and ramblings chemically induced? Are they signs of an underlying condition? A new physical should be performed by a reputable board of physicians.
How can any feel comfortable having the person who blathered on in charge of the nuclear codes?
14
After Thursday’s Fox & Friends meltdown, I suspect that Trump’s current attorneys will suddenly find a reason to fire their client.
26
Wow! And that is your president who just spewed out the most incoherent mumbo jumbo I have ever heard from a so called world leader in my life! It must be painful and embarrasing for you people to endure! Good luck on that!
42
I saw the interview and it really makes one doubt the mental clarity of the President.
29
So the Dossier, which Republicans have been trashing as complete garbage to smear Trump, is day after day looking more legit:
First, it gets confirmed that Cohen was indeed in Prague, after Trump denied it and lied about it being a different Michael Cohen.
Then Michael Cohen dropped the Buzzfeed lawsuit, where he claimed they slandered him with the dossier.
Now Trump admits that he did indeed spend a night in Moscow, having claimed to Comey that he never did.
I used to think the pee-tape story was totally bogus; now I’m starting to think it may actually be out there.
27
There is no evident disincentive to harassing people with frivolous lawsuits in the US.
Here's a good hypothetical, on your wife's birthday whats the one person you should not name?
15
"Michael Cohen won't flip on me, because I'm gonna flip on him first!"
15
Quint from "jaws" to Marine biologist Matt Hooper - "You're gonna need a bigger boat,"
John Kelly to Trump " "You're gonna need a bigger bus."
15
Good catch, but it was Hooper who said the line. :-)
actually, it was Chief Brody
3
And this guy Trump demands absolute loyalty - he doesn't know the meaning of the word.
7
“Now, who exactly is this Michael Cohen fellow? His name sounds vaguely familiar. I think maybe he served me coffee once at a meeting”.
20
Taxes, Mr. "President". Just show us the taxes.
33
Perhaps Dr. Jackson could supply Trump with some ritalin.
30
Trump is going to England in July . They should have 100s of British Paul Revere’s riding through that country warning the people as Revere did in Boston . TRUMP IS COMING ! TRUMP IS COMING !
16
Maybe Fox and Friends have become the new Hope Hicks. Those closest to Donald are probably used to starting the day with these tirades. Hearing him live really captures the crazy in a way that Twitter never could. Anyone who gets too close to Donald usually regrets it, maybe even Fox News. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch...
33
Headline should read: Trump throws Michel Cohen under the bus.
12
I am sure that Michael Cohen's files are stuffed with NDAs that Donald, aka David Dennison, has required over the years. Ah, the legal entanglements of aging creeps and erstwhile playboys who wish to maintain a veneer of respectability.
But Donald assures us that Michael Cohen handles just a "tiny, tiny fraction" of Donald's legal work, which begs the question about the rest of the NDAs out there. Unless Donald is telling a fib.......
Perish the thought.
13
Trump throws another "best people" under the bus.
12
Trump is already "throwing Cohen under the bus." So much for Presidential Loyalty. (sic)
9
Sooner or later the choice of personnel for all positions of any kind needed to be filled by Trump will finally get down to the bottom of the barrel.
Which of course is where the despicable Trump himself happens to be.
The one and only solution currently available to this unfortunate situation will be the upcoming elections this November.
I urge all Republicans to change their voting registration to that of Democrat. Send a message to the country at large.
We need a united Congress that will put the matter of Trump and Trumpism to a final rest.
After the elections are over retain the new position or register once again to Republican or Independent as you so desire.
"United we stand. Dividend we fall."
7
Time for this reality tv version of blatant corruption and incompetence to be cancelled.
Ryan and McConnell’s silence is deafening
30
Odd way to present this story considering the President just had some sort of mental breakdown on national tv and the show’s hosts had to hustle him off the air clearly out of the fear that he was going to implicate himself even further. Isn’t it about time some real journalists examined exactly the nature of Murdoch’s ties to the President, how much he has personally benefitted from the tax cuts, how much advertising the Kochs provide to FOX? His media’s enabling, defense and protection of this dangerous president through lies and distortions, and manipulation of the public have really reached a point that is threatening the country.
48
Well, as predicted by most of us, malignant narcissist and habitual liar wasn't far behind with demeaning the relationship, before we know he'll claim he doesn't even know the guy, never met him.
9
“The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the town. And that’s a business I’m not in. That doesn’t have to do with me.”
4
Trump's comments with Fox & Friends blew up attempts by Cohen's attorneys to show violations of attorney-client confidentiality. I won't be surprised if Trump makes a claim that the voice in that interview was not his own, but from his enemies attempting to destroy him.
16
Can't wait for the deposition...
15
Congratulations to Fox "News": The contrived gravitas and balance they have tried to project has completed its collapse upon itself. They have become "Trump TV", and will be provided their proper place in history's trash heap, along with the ludicrous, odorous Donald Trump.
35
Indeed! The official propaganda network.
Allegedly, Murdoch was listening in and promptly ordered the producers to pull the plug.
Murdoch himself probably feared for his own safety since too many cats were already let out of the bag.
2
Every time the people around Trump always take the blame and the fall! Trump on the other hand has “fall guys” around him 24/7. It’s time Mr. President to take responsibility and blame and own up to your actions! Your actions alone and your misdeeds are getting you into trouble!
6
Trump’s call in interview on Fox and Friends was like something out of Jersey Shore, Family Vacation. Trump was clearly intoxicated on some sort of substance. His claims of being a teetotaler are beginning to appear, like everything else he says, a big fat lie. Unbefitting the Office. Twenty fifth amendment time!
16
I challenged a Trump supporter when he said that people like Trump because he is so "authentic." I immediately replied that Trump was a liar. He then challenged me to name one lie that Trump told and "don't hesitate." Being "on the clock," I thought of the most recent at that time and said that Trump said on AF 1 that he knew nothing about the hush money paid to Daniels. The Trump supporter immediately said "prove it." Well, 2 weeks later Trump claimed that the $130,000 did not come from his campaign funds. So Trump did lie because he knew that it didn't come from his campaign funds.
9
I have been waiting for this for weeks! What does anyone expect of this man and his administration and the Republican conspiracy swamp!
I have also been waiting for the Sean Hannity 'link/non-link' to shady real estate deals and am curious to learn how the rents of his housing portfolio for which he obtained HUD support compare to rents of similar housing to justify his comments that he 'is spending his money to help' low-income communities.
Finally maybe Cohen has also HUD supported real estate in his portfolio or the Kushners have in theirs?
9
Like many American families, we have experience with mental illness. As a consequence, I have resisted glib calls for President Trump's removal under Article 25, believing him to be just an ordinary megalomaniacal national leader, like Marcos, Brezhnev and Ortega.
Now, after today's outburst on Fox and Friends, terminated by a chagrined host who said, "we you know have other things to do", I was forced to revise my view. The President was out of control, in the regalia of full paranoia, raging, like Lear, across the White House rugs. He appeared to be in the grip of what a psychiatrist, speaking of a foreign leader,, described as situational psychosis, stimulated by an excess of pressure in office.
Hopefully, the major players in the USG have a compact to keep the President from blowing up the world with his nuclear football. Beyond that, members of the Cabinet need to begin to consider their responsiblitiee under Article 25.
20
"...not bringing up real charges against the other side...". Tell us, you are the President, who is "the other side"? Who do you mean, exactly? Because we are one nation, and your words refer to an enemy of our nation.
Do you accuse an entire political party? An entire gender? Our entire Justice system, our Fourth Estate?
18
Back in the day, H-word used to rant and rave for hours on the subject of racism. He would yell, turn red in the face, and foam at the mouth like a mad dog - just like Trump in his Fox interview recently. I do not know why Far Rightists get so emotional when they speak, but they do. It is a common trait of Far Rightists.
6
The Fox and Friends call in raised questions about the President's stability. The loud rant, the reiteration of his electoral college win, his statement that Michael Cohen was only involved in a tiny portion of his legal dealings, while his own lawyers were arguing that the information from the Cohen raid violated attorney client privilege and his admission that Cohen represented him in the Stormy Daniels NDA when he had previously denied all knowledge of the event, all raise questions about his grasp of reality. The really worrisome part of this whole screed is that this man is scheduled to meet with Kim Jung -un later this year.
20
The only thing that Donald Trump was distancing himself from was sanity. This was a freak show of unprecedented magnitude, the exact opposite of a "stable genius."
19
In other words, it wasn't the witch hunt Trump had easier screamed that it was.
4
Mr Trump is doing an admirable job of allowing those behid him to feather their own nests with out scrutiny. There is no denunciation of anything but his deluded rants. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are funneling money to family and friends under the cover he is providing and most of us simply sit on the sidelines laughing at his antics while these professionals load up their accounts with taxpayer cash.
We are such dupes, but then we have been trained since birth to accept myths which were originated to and still only benefit the few. The men who have always been in control sure know how to play on the very insecurities they instill.
Thank heaven and our politicians for an afterlife,
5
Cohen abdicates in the civil case, freeing Stephanie Clifford from the NDA. She has already told her story, so “losing” the case doesn’t have practical consequences for Cohen or Trump. It saves them from discovery and being deposed (which can lead to criminal charges, as it did for Cosby when he admitted to drugging women for sex in the Constand civil case deposition). That’s a “win” for Trump.
I’m not convinced Trump contradicting himself about Stephanie Clifford has practical consequences, either. Did anyone ever doubt her story?
The real legal jeopardy is in the SDNY criminal case.
4
If the "Fox and Friends" debacle isn't proof of this buffoon's mental instability, I'm not sure what is.
17
List of the witness is growing as more staffs desert the sinking ship captained by an unworthy Lord.
3
What struck me most about the 30 minute rant was Trump’s supposed reason for being there: he said he was there for Melania’s birthday. He then proceeded to humiliate his wife in front of millions of people by basically saying he was a tree stump and had no feelings whatsoever about not having gotten her a present. Melania seems to be the only person in his orbit who has managed to actually look BETTER despite associating with him.
13
Here's the thing, Mr. Trump. Michael Cohen is pleading the fifth in a case involving Stormy Daniels that is completely unrelated to other business interests he might have. Your attempt to portray his plea as unrelated to yourself is utterly implausible.
10
At this point, any interview with the interim President should start with the same question. "Why should we believe anything you are about to say?"
10
Remember, entire world is watching and listening. Is this our George the III moment? Should we continue to allow this man to hold office?
14
I've been waiting for this moment. Trump's performance on Fox echoed Humphrey Bogart's ball bearing rolling breakdown in the Caine Mutiny. This rambling incoherent tantrum should prove this man is unfit for the Presidency. America is represented by this man. America now has no credibility.
14
I would wish for Mr. Cohen to see the light and do his part to save us from this vile atrocity. But I suspect that anyone so compromised that he'd represent him has little sense of decency in the first place.
10
I'm very concerned that most FOX anchors and their audiences are genuinely lost in a cult-like haze, so accustomed to being lectured at in dogmatic Christian Right-style rhetoric as they are, that this bizarre display of Presidential mania fit in fine with the culture they are surrounded by 24/7.
FOX and their deluded friends seem disturbingly inoculated against this kind of ranting - they might even enjoy it in a kind of sadomasochistic way - unlike their more rational counterparts on other all those cable networks Trump claims to never look at. (But always just happens to be watching.)
8
Trump's performance on Fox sounded to me like his confession. And maybe that's why Fox cut his mike off; they're trying to help someone who is no longer capable of being helped. Perhaps Dr. Feelgood should have offered a Quaalude or two to sharpen Trump's thinking.
11
Did trump just "flip" on his pal Cohen?
Trump's a walking talking perjury machine.
As Frank Figliuzzi said on MSNBC, while trump was on FOX & Friends ranting, a normal and responsible POTUS would be receiving his morning Presidential Daily Briefings to secure our nation for the day - not going on a rant tearing down Americans.
As for Trump's childishly bellicose rhetoric, it has nothing to do with the North Korean talks. It has everything to do with Kim believing he has reached nuclear and missile confidence where he can now negotiate credibly with other nuclear powers as an equal with a threatening enough arsenal of his own. All trump can do is encourage or force him to use it. The Sun will rise tomorrow without trump's blessing.
9
[[President Trump distanced himself from his longtime lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, on Thursday, saying that a federal criminal investigation was focused on Mr. Cohen’s business dealings and had nothing to do with his legal representation of the president.]]
And THAT, my friends, is how you throw someone under a bus.
8
25th Amendment, anyone? If Trump's incoherent rant on Fox & Friends doesn't scream "raging lunatic," nothing does.
And, as always, loyalty is a one-way street for Trump. Michael Cohen has been Trump's long-time fixer. We'll soon learn more about all the crimes he committed to protect Trump, only to be thrown under the bus. And, in true Trump fashion, he now appears to be claiming that he hardly knows Cohen.
Lock him up. Trump, that is. In an insane asylum where he belongs.
8
If Pence becomes President he will receive even greater scrutiny and since he's probably just as guilty as Trump is he would like to keep a low profile.
1
For normal Americans, the entire "Russia" investigation - side attacks included - has becoming a boring flop. Trump is constantly using it to his advantage.
I suggest that all Upper West Side types who delight in discussing the investigation, get on Trumps email list, and find out how effective he is at using propaganda to influence the voters in the core areas of our country - the people who grow the food you eat, drill for the petroleum that heats your home, and work in the factory that made your SUV.
Elections must be won with the voters you have, not the ones you snobbishly think you should have. There is a word for this effect - it's called Democracy.
Hopefully, when Cohen takes the Fifth, it will hammer the last nail into the coffin of the Mueller Investigation, and the members of the Democratic Party will be able to get back to the job of winning elections by listening to voters.
Democrats have been working to give the people you mention affordable health care, a living wage, education, clean air and water etc. It's not the fault of Democrats that these same people want easy answers to complex problems and a permanent underclass of people to look down upon so they can feel better about themselves.
6
"He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me." There must be solid evidence on this issue in the files taken from Cohen's office and Donald Trump/David Dennison is trying to play catch up and get in front of it. This is typical behavior of a pathological liar who knows he/she is about to be caught but wrongly assumes he/she can control the narrative by admitting the truth prior to exposure. I look forward to the deposition phase.
7
So Cohen just dropped the Buzzfeed lawsuit he filed for his being named in the DOSSIER just days ago?
“Michael Cohen Drops Lawsuits Against BuzzFeed And Fusion GPS”
https://www.buzzfeed.com/stevenperlberg/michael-cohen-drops-lawsuits-aga...
https://www.buzzfeed.com/stevenperlberg/donald-trump-personal-lawyer-sue...?
15
Once Hope Hicks left, it was only a matter of time.
32
"Oh that my enemy would write a book!"
A fervent prayer uttered long ago by President Andrew Jackson. Who perceived, apparently, what incalculable damage the writers--or the talkers--do THEMSELVES.
I'm sorry, New York Times--I really am!--but I LOVE it when this man talks. The man must be a centipede--he's indefatigably shot himself in the FOOT so many times--golly, sir! how many feet you GOT?
And this last! What on earth have John Kerry's "negotiating skills" got to do with anything? You tell me. And the President's giving himself an A plus--well surprise surprise! Sir, you've really GOT--to get over this MORBIDLY LOW opinion you have of yourself and your accomplishments. Try, sir! Try real HARD!
I have long ceased to laugh uproariously whenever "Crooked Hillary" comes into play. Or "Crooked H" as the poor woman's become. I smile, true--but that's all. Mr. President, you've USED UP the comic potential of "Crooked H." Try something else.
Have you ever slept outdoors in cold weather? Endlessly pulling your shabby wraps round you--endlessly trying to stay warm. And you never DO get warm. Icy fingers find you no matter WHAT you do.
That's where our President is right now. Icy winds are blowing from. . .well. . .from a LOT of places right now.
And the poor guy's trying to keep warm.
And nothing works.
Nothing.
80
It appears that Stormy Daniel's lawyer, Michael Avenatti, is having way too much fun!
Who needs an interview with Mueller when we can have trump talk all he wants on FOX & Friends. I'm sure Mueller was disappointed when FOX rudely cut off the president.
Unlike Mueller focused investigation, Ken Starr would be all over the pee-pee incident in Moscow instead as part of his "Russia" investigation.
54
Paging Dr. Ronnie. Double dose POTUS with ambien stat before he says Stormy D....
Never mind.
60
....And calls State T.V. , I mean Fox News...
3
Melanina: What say you?
46
Well, my parents don't have citizenship yet, so ..... I will say nothing.
7
She's not paid to talk, she's paid to stand there and be arm candy.
2
Michael Cohn would be stupid to take a bullet for a man who is trying to distance himself from him.
Trump demands loyalty from all but gives it to none in return, except to the other members of the Trump clan.
Cohn should do the right thing once in his lowlife and tell the truth to the prosecutors. He will surely gain some respect for doing that.
57
What makes you think he might not be stupid? Having money and amassing influence does not necessarily take intelligence. One may be in the right place at the right time with the "right" people.
1
While the house is burning out, you will see the rat's face. Cohen should rethink abut his protection of the boss many times before taking his stance in the near future. Sincerely cooperating with the prosecutors' criminal investigation is the best way out. It also the most courageous act.
40
This guy will throw anybody and everybody under the bus to protect himself. He has no empathy, no care for others, no sense of morals, no honor, or honesty. If there was ever a man that would be voted the number one worst person in America, he would win hands down. There is nothing about this man that is remotely good. Just an evil, shallow, and sick individual.
91
Trump threw himself under the bus with his very public comments on “Fox and Friends”. He weakened any claim of attorney/client privilege vis-a-vis material seized from Cohen’s office. He also made it yet more unlikely any competent lawyer would step in to defend him from the circling sharks closing in on him. It’s unlikely even a dope like Cohen would “take a bullet” for Trump now.
9
Could this be Trump’s “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” moment?
31
Print the entire transcript of that insane rant from Trump on his call in to Fox and Friends. Not only did he dig his own hole deeper on the Stormy Daniels case but he also threw Cohen under the bus.
Even the Fox and Friends dummies knew how crazy Trump sounded and then Doocy said they were "running out of time." LOL As if Doocy would have the guts to cut off Trump. Obviously Rupert Murdoch was watching and ordered the control room to shut Trump down because he was so far over the edge.
Time for the guys in the white coats to visit the WH and put a jacket on Trump and lead him out of there.
113
One word describes Mr. Cohen.....Obsequience. He's like the guy at the circus who walks behind the elephants, cleaning up after them. When asked why he doesn't quit such a foul job, he responds, "What? And give up show business?"
52
The bus drove over Cohen, backed up over him and then went over him for the third time. Is Cohen still taking the Fifth or is he going to cooperate?
26
That is so funny, I laughed out loud.
2
God, I am so sick of this jerk, Donald Trump. Never before has my country had to suffer through such extreme embarrassment any time one of our past presidents spoke. Each time Trump opens his mouth the country blushes in shame.
82
Rest assured, Trump will throw him under the bus sooner rather than later - it's how he's always rewarded loyalty.
16
Hopefully Mike Pence and what is left of the Cabinet, have read up on the 25th Amendment and will act soon.
23
Unfortunately, once trump is out the arrival of Pence will be seen as a relief, as a return to "normalcy." The republican assault on our laws and courts may, in fact, increase in speed and depth. Beware of what you wish for...
6
I trust that Mikey'll send America a post card, after he finishes knocking off the plaster of snow and slush he picked up after getting thrown off the back of the sled.
10
So.
If Michael Cohen didn't represent 45 in his legal dealings and was 'just a business man', then he wasn't his attorney. And attorney-client privilege doesn't apply, yes?
So.
None of the files/papers/computers seized from all of Cohen's locations are now subject to review in the event that they may contain information that might violate privilege. According to 45, Cohen wasn't his attorney and didn't represent him.
What am I missing here?
45
I think you are missing quite a bit. This is called "aspirational listening," where people hear what they want to hear. Your assumption ("if Michael Cohen didn't represent 45 in his legal dealings..") has no basis in the article. In fact, the article is quite clear that Trump "acknowledged that Mr. Cohen represents him in connection with Stephanie Clifford," that Mr. Cohen handled “a tiny, tiny little fraction” of his legal work," and that Trump said “Michael would represent me and represent me on some things.” So clearly Cohen was an attorney for Trump.
4
Missing the distinction between realilty and the TV show version? Don't worry, you're in good company.
This will all be moot anyway once forty sixpence pardons 45, so he can retire to making malt liquor commercials. "The perfect chaser after taking the fifth."
2
“Michael is a businessman, he’s got a business. He also practices law”
So much for attorney-client privilege.
47
In other words, the president is telling us that Cohen was worthless and did almost nothing for him. He claims the wrongdoing is of Cohen's alone and has nothing to do with Cohen's work for him. In short, Trump is throwing Cohen under the bus. What a miserable way to treat somebody who has said he would take a bullet for you.
Why in the world would any sane competent person work for let alone take a bullet for somebody like Trump?
49
Narcissists generally believe they will be the exception to the rule.
3
"...sane competent...sane competent...sane competent..." I believe you've answered your own question.
3
I have nothing but pity for the person who has to translate Trump's English gibberish into Korean (assuming the summit actually happens).
64
Best comment of the day!
3
Biggest problem with Trump's comments today on Fox is two letters: MY, as in "my Justice Depatment." That says it all.
76
And whining about “the other side.” Either one is for Trump, or is the enemy.
3
Trump is casually giving evidence against himself because he doesn't realize that the situation has changed. He's not under indictment but he is under investigation, so everything he says will be parsed for intent.
35
Laurence O'Donnell Of MSNBC Just Revealed That Fox News Head Rupert Murdoch Was Watching The Trump Disaster Diatribe On "Fox And Friends" And So Realized That Trump Was Digging His Own Legal Hole, That He Called The Channel's TV Controller, To "Shut Down" The Interview Now!
The Hosts Immediately Complied.
The First Time An American President Was Shut Down By An American "News" Network.
A Real Embarrassing Moment From An Embarrassing President.
93
Trump is circling the internal demons with his arms crossed, his unique presidential pout, whiny complaints, lies ad nauseam, and spinning as fast as he can to deflect.
Are there any adults in politics?
23
Not since enforcement of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" lapsed.
2
Please tell me why it’s morally acceptable to pay women for her silence regarding an affair with a married man. More to the point - the married man had another married man unertake the transaction. That married man just pleaded the 5th (not Ave.). The payoff occurred just before an election while the male candidate, claiming all the women were lying about him, was deriding a former President for his affairs. And then there is the Russia “hooker” allegations - were these male or female? Also supposedly lies but then the two recent affairs were real - despite endless denials. Who do I believe? The women, naturally. Entertainment celebrities are getting their dues - why not politicians and politician/ celebrities?
22
It's important that Trump "acknowledge" that Cohen represented him in the Daniels case, after denying that he knew anything about it, because that's the only way he gets to claim attorney-client privilege.
13
Isn't that the sound of Cohen being thrown under the bus? Or is it under the bus-iness? When will they learn? Everyone who comes in contact with this man is diminished or contaminated. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
16
Folks, it's time to get ready to deal with the Theocrat-Elect; Pence is on deck. After this lunatic he will look sane...that is a danger.
45
Nobody who projects a human personality onto nature is a mature, honest, and rational person.
1
When has anyone interviewing a POTUS cut him off? It's usually the president who brings an interview to a close, but even Fox and Friends realized that it would be a disaster to let this stream of mendacity go on any longer. I have a feeling that our SCPOTUS would have ranted on for a few hours more of his "Executive Time." I have no other words except these three: Get the Net.
73
So. Trump acknowledges that Cohen 'represented' him in the 'crazy deal' with Stormy Daniels. About the payoff for the affair that never happened. And Cohen, while he was representing Trump in this hush-money payoff arrangement, Cohen paid the $130,000 out of his own pocket (presumably out of the goodness of his heart...?). How much stupid does Trump actually think the American public will believe? Does he really think that anyone but dedicated Hannity viewers will believe 1) that 'the affair that never happened' never happened? 2) That the money came out of Cohen's own personal funds? Sorry Trump - once again you're stretching the ability of a rational normal thinking human to "Believe me!" when you talk. Confess, come clean, tell the truth and beg forgivness, go on Dancing With The Stars -- Melania will never leave when she can be First Party Host. Besides, I bet Cohen represented you in that pre-nup too, right?
43
Cohen had so many clients it could be any one of them , oh that's right he only has 1,2 maybe 3. It's not about Trump, he's such a fine upstanding citizen. What a joke. Have you ever heard that about this person?
28
Why does the Times insist on saying that Cohen's offices were raided instead of clearly stating that the FBI executed a legally obtained search warrant? A raid, however legal, sounds as if some wrong doing occurred on the part of the FBI when it's been reported that the warrant was signed off by a judge. #wordsmeanthings
74
Thud!!
The sound being made by Trumps advisers jaws as they hit whatever surface they were perched over, after listening to his rant this morning.
Bigly
55
The Cohen affair is beyond Stormy Daniels. It’s becoming more like stormy denials.
49
@Iron Bubble: good catch! 'Daniels' is an anagram of 'denials' !
Clever!
19
This man could hold a master class in gaslighting. My fear is by the end of this all of America will be stark raving mad.
53
Too busy being presidential to have time to buy his wife a birthday present.
Not to worry, she was just immortalized in wax at Madame Toussaud's, with of all people, Sean Spicer doing the unveiling. Scaramucci wasn't available, I guess.
Maybe in some distant future when this mayhem and surreality is behind us, we can laugh in relief when the Merry Band of Would Be or Former Trumpeters stage a reunion at Mar-a-Lago. There they will all be, seated at the long, long table, with name tags reading: Fired and disavowed. Fired and dissed. Fired but I never met you. Fired because not hired. Fired but allowed back in. Fired but I forget why.
39
I hope she takes him for every dime he doesn’t have.
1
Does anyone else remember the photos of Trump cheesing for the camera with Bill and Hillary? The real deal.
17
Grab the glory, spread ALL the blame. And grab ALL the Cash possible.
Thanks, GOP.
33
"He said he had tried not to interfere in Justice Department matters. But he warned that “at some point I won’t.”
So we have now this certified crook trying to neutralize the justice dept.
Great. Corruption at its best.
61
Even at the risk of being fired, didn't anyone in the White House think it wise to simply cut off the phone lines during this rant?
23
Trump just gave Melanie the best 48th birthday present he could’ve, pending impeachment. Maybe her NDA will then become null and void if all his affairs and unknown children come to light - unless abortions were paid for. Maybe then evangelicals will leave the sinking ship too.
35
The evangelicals will leave if Trump is accused of either arranging abortions or engaging in homosexual activity. Like, say, Trump's "April in Paris" kissy-feely moments with Emmanuel Macron.
1
Trump is a user. When he is done with you he discards you. I have seen this type 1,000 times before. Best advice: stay away from them.
32
Mr. Cohen, you have been officially thrown under the bus.
And nobody throws people under the bus like Donald Trump.
Nobody.
47
During this tragishamockery, he also admitted spending the night in Moscow around the time of the Miss Universe Pageant. He had denied this because the dossier said he spent the night.
35
"He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me."
-----
Now that trump has admitted this, it looks like Cohen took the fifth for nothing...
28
Dear Republicans,
Your hot mess. Time to clean it up.
I am so embarrassed by this man, he is no representation of the United States.
We are the laughing stock of the world.
65
I love it that The President of the United States was "cut off" from Fox and Friends because he went over their allotted air time! Give that control room manager a raise!
37
Funny, Trump was all bluster and bravado when he was drawing his "red line" regarding investigation of his businesses, but now that the line has been marched across by investigators, he looks like a lost rube, a deer in the headlights, with no idea what to do.
31
Even if we were to accept the preposterous notion that there was nothing to see about the Daniels NDA and payment, I wouldn't be so sure that Cohen's business affairs don't involve Russian or Ukrainian clients and Trump real-estate deals - which might be the much larger crime.
68
Cohen's wife is Ukrainian. He speaks fluent Russian.
15
Where are the republicans? What are they thinking while listening to the tangential word-salad of a deranged and possibly delusional president on a news show of all places? They are either thinking they have to get all the money they can get from this debacle or they just really don't care one whit about this country. It was a challenge to listen to him today and I spend my days working with people who have chronic mental illnesses. He is not well, he is not able to make good decisions and is a danger to himself and others. We are not safe with this guy at the helm and I don't trust any republicans to keep us safe either.
169
I haven’t heard “word salad” for a while. I’ve only had time to listen to excerpts from the interview, but your calling it word salad reminded me of the debates where I thought he sounded incoherent half the time—and yet he still got elected!!!! (I don’t say he won—he was 3 million votes short for that.)
14
It's annoying that the press must report every public equivocation or prevarication that Trump utters, on the one hand.
On the other hand, the press must report the conduct of the President of the United States because it is newsworthy, by definition.
It seems Mr. Trump has found the ultimate hack to keep himself in the spotlight, culminating the path of trickery that brought him into it.
22
If there's one area where all of these guys excel, it's passing the buck and shedding baggage. It's like the political version of Reservoir Dogs. And Trump has plenty of baggage left to shed.
18
Did Trump actually distance himself from Cohen? He tried, but the headline gives him credit for something that I believe he did not accomplish.
13
It seems that Fox is starting the process of divorcing itself from President Taint. They let him go off the rails. If they cared for him the connection would have inexplicably been lost.
“President Taint can you hear us now....”
Ratings trump Trump. Thanks President Taint as Fox News secretly celebrates. This interview will be on every MSM & late night show.
I’m trying to decide if I prefer the rant or the dandruff flick more.
24
Another Trump associate thrown under the bus. What pathos!
16
All the signs of insecurity! I hope (not Hope Hicks) that the Senste keeps its rubber stamp handy. How long will Pompeo last? He’s already ticked off Trump by not limiting himself to “HELLO” in N Korea. Not one is immune from the “kiss of death”. Cohen pleading the 5th - at Trump’s suggestion? Admiral Ronny backing out. Pompeo is already in trouble - will he grovel or thumb his nose? Might as well choose the latter and get some satisfaction.
17
Thank you, Fox&Friends. Put this crazy fool on your show every morning, and we will be rid of him sooner than later!
63
Remember when we had a real president?
75
My headline: "President Spitballs during 30 minute Rant" with tagline:
"If President had dog it would be under the bed"
29
Or under the bus.
1
it's rare to see the captain of the sinking ship be the first one to jump off
29
If only.
1
And this is our President!
24
Not mine, ever.
25
"Even the cheery hosts of 'Fox & Friends' turned grim-faced as Trump ranted, and it was left to Kilmeade to put a stop to the babbling. 'We could talk all day but looks like you have a million things to do,' he said, as if to remind Trump that he is President of the United States. Trump took the hint and ended the performance ... " (CNN, 26Apr2018) Just like Capt. Queeg losing it in "The Caine Mutiny", while the other officers just stared.
52
Thump thump. That's the bus wheels going under Lawyer Cohen. Sad that his loyalty is so misplaced.
16
Cohen takes the fall.
don the con pardons him.
....so when does the swamp drain??
Major Amplification of Graft in America
13
Donald, you lied once again. You had sex with that woman and your directed Cohen to fix it - you directly paid the hush money or took his illegal $130,000 campaign contribution. Put Trump under oath and he is toast. George Washington couldn’t tell a lie. Trump cannot tell the truth!
39
Cohen has been 'coffee boyed.'
36
Actually, what we should be doing is telling Rupert Murdoch to go back to Australia and take dishonest and despicable yellow journalism with him.
43
We don't want him back we have enough trouble already with his media outlets here. They are becoming an embarrassment in their endorsement of Trump and their continual bashing of Democrats. (I would not have voted for either Presidential candidate.)
6
We don’t want him back here. His Australian newspapers are all similar to Fox, where climate change is ignored or said to be a lie put out by thousands of government funded scientists, the little guy is unrepresentative, and the kings of business get a free ride. The conservative LNP have Murdoch’s media as their main propaganda arm.
He is a US citizen and we don’t want him back here. In fact we want him out of our Australian media, but that seems very unlikely.
10
And yet, it goes well beyond just embarrassing owing to the fact that it far outdistances its competitors in ratings. Murdoch is the best thing to happen to Republicans, who can deny climate change, confirm incompetents and so much more because Fox backs them all of the way. Thus, Americans continue to vote against their interests because they think the incompetent in the W.H. is on their side. Yea, right, folks, Trump and the GOP really care about all of you.
2
Trump’s neediness is monumental, exhausting and pathetic.
48
How does it feel,to be on your own...thrown under the bus,while he stands with arms folded and that ugly pout on his face. Good luck,sucker....
29
Sorry Mr. Cohen, but it’s too late for you.
You’ve been abandoned like so many others, but the stain persists.
50
"From what I understand," says Trump, "they're looking at his [Cohen's] business." On what is this "understanding" based? How would Trump know what crime(s) the U.S. Attorney was looking into, and whether those crimes were restricted to Cohen himself? I don't know for certain, but I suspect it is a fabrication -- a product of Trump's own thoughts. Trump -- the Grand Confabulator.
45
"my Justice Department" gave me the biggest chill. I am certain it has been explained to him about how government works, but it doesn't sink in. He is truly the Emperor with no clothes. Just listened to Danny Kaye sing the song on youtube. It will make you laugh & cry.
39
Oops, did I just say that?
Michael Cohen must be mulling over his so-called loyalty to DJT ; he just got dissed just as Carter Page or Papadoupolous were, being called coffee boys.
The interview with Mueller, if it ever happens, is not a perjury trap. DJT falls into a trap he set himself - saying one thing one day then the opposite thing a few hours or days later.
Thank you FOX News for letting DJT ramble on.
A “tell”, just as Comey sensed in his conversations with DJT, is info offered that was not asked, such as “There were no campaign funds...”
40
Trump will do exactly to what a sane person would not do, thereby testing the conventional and the normal value can withstand his bully challenge based on the votes he received from his supporters.
4
You got the headline wrong. Should read: "Unhinged septuagenarian makes rambling 30-minute phone call to Fox and Friends."
61
As a hinged septuagenarian, I object to your word choice. President Trump’s behavior is not caused by his age.
6
McConnell? Ryan? We still can't hear you? Hiding in your bunker will only assure we remember you when our democracy most needed leadership action to uphold our Constitution and form of government. You are indeed complicit and a disgrace to this country. Your corrupt legacy is now part of our sad history since these criminals took over -- and you did nothing!
83
McConnell, Ryan, the rest of that pathetic gang are the real culprits. They allow this all to happen.
Like the conservatives and center party losers in 1933 Germany. Enablers.
27
I found Trump's morning rant to Fox on internet and listened. Trump sounds maniacal, delusional, paranoid, unhinged... he is clear and present danger to the United States and the World. I am more disgusted with his WH syncopates and cowardly GOP Congress folks than with this sick president. they are not mentally deranged, just moral cowards.
102
And totally complicit.
25
"Making America Great Again"
( or, maybe not )
4
Cohen is more than old enough to have known EXACTLY what he has been "fixing" for Trump for all these years and a fool to think that this narcissistic sociopath would not kick him under th bus as he has done to everyone else when risking exposure.
I have no sympathy for either Cohen or his family. Just like a Mafia Consiglieri, both grownups knew what was going on. Their crime, in addition to the horror that they have created for their targets and the laws they have willingly broken for Trump, is they they have placed their children in jeopardy. There is absolutely no excuse for this The kids will need many years of serious therapy to recover, if that is even possible. Luckily, this is happening while they are young.
Look at Trump's progeny to see what growing up in a criminal, dysfunctional environment can do to you. They are just as responsible for their dealings as their sociopath father because they have had freedom of choice for many years - no so for small children.
The "Don"-in-Chief is going down, complements of Cohen and many others. Wait for it ...
19
Trump was upset that the FBI agents executed search warrants so early in the morning,,,,while the wife of the criminal was still in bed!!!! He'll be directing the FBI to wait until the criminals have eaten breakfast, showered, dressed, etc. before any more no knock warrants are executed.
14
I can’t decide, was this before or after he took his meds? Or could he be in withdrawal from one of Dr. Jackson’s potions that have suddenly dried up?
37
Anybody else think that trump just bought a ticket for the crazyland bus?
PS. I wonder how Cohen feels about being toss under the bus by the boss he adored. Or is he just surprised how crowed it is under there?
36
I would pay money to see the face of his attorney and general Kelly after the fox and friends rant this morning.
43
I always thought that a witch hunt meant you were looking for something that wasn't there. But the president's lawyer pleading the Fifth? My god, every day there's another broomstick flying across the front pages!
34
Trump holds no loyalty towards anybody but himself. Although he tries to distract us by minimizing his dealings with Cohen's, the truth shall come out and rein supreme; but by then, Trump will surely find other cheap scapegoats to distract us from his stupid and irresponsible behavior. He needs to grow up.
14
If Trump distances himself, would he come out and say that he would not pardon him if found guilty? Put your money where your mouth is.
5
Why would anyone in their right mind stay loyal to this sleaze ball? Oh well, when you lie down with dogs ...
24
A person reading this article without more context would think that the President gave a lively-but-wide-ranging interview. The closest that this article gets to reporting the facts is by stating that the interview was "at times rambling". This is wrong. Today's interview was a half hour of unhinged shouting, and that, coming from the President of the United States, is the buried headline.
67
An elderly relative who delivered such an unhinged rant would be a cause for alarm.
And this person is president of the United States.
Not good.
39
Bit ageist...
1
Our president, folks. Be scared.
32
It IS like watching a train wreck.
Forrest Gump: "Stupid is as stupid does". We are somewhat lucky that there is such stupidity. Thanks to Fox & Friends for handing out the rope that is just long enough.
27
“With all due respect to this Court Your Honor, the defendant unable to retain competent counsel(correct spelling), I must respectfully decline this appointment to represent the President and therefore I hereby resign my position as deputy public defender”.
Wow am I glad I’m already retired. Whew!
8
The president is already distancing himself from his fixer? Well, who didn’t see that coming? Looks like Mr. Cohen spent his career standing behind a man who demands absolute loyalty but has a history of throwing his loyal subjects under the bus to save himself. I hope today’s Fox interview serves as a wake up to Mr. Cohen and his family!
20
Trump will never escape Michael Cohen. They are married more than Melania and Trump. Melania is probably jealous of Cohen.
12
I heard excepts from His FOX performance. He sounds exactly like a demented old man screaming about getting off his lawn. Seriously.
34
Trump’s daily shenanigans must be killing daytime TV lol
12
Lets see trump has said on more than one occasion that anyone who takes the 5th are mob members or those who have something to hide. So with Cohen is it A.) he is in mob family B.) he has something to hide C.) a & b or D.) trump says its okay, he's my attorney past comments don't apply. My pick is C. What's your pick?
11
So President Trump recognizes the valid, legitimate intellectual context of this legal issue - that the President is not involved in this any more than he is/was in Mueller's vapid, political witch hunt - and this means we get treated to a rehab of the story to show he's "distancing himself".
You easily make a case that by waking up this morning he's distancing himself from Bill Cosby's verdict, too, but that would be stupid to assert. Just like this is.
2
Trump tweeted out an announcement that he would be on Fox and Friends this morning with the message to "Enjoy". I just finished watching it on YouTube and boy oh boy did I ever enjoy that! The facial expressions of the hosts were so very enjoyable as they listened to their guy become unglued and unhinged. I could just picture the bigwigs at Fox frantically signaling for them to change the direction or just stop of the train wreck that was that interview.
Where does Trump get all this crazy stuff he rants on and on about? Why, Fox News, of course. It's as if they're watching the Frankenstein they have created do the damage they never expected on live tv.
I just hope that Saturday Night Live will be new this weekend. Can't wait to see the skit they come up with. Oh wait, it's only Thursday. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
42
News is leaking from Fox tonight that Rupert Murdoch himself actually directed the Fox and Friends hosts to get him off the air immediately, which they eventually managed to do. Watching the tape you can actually pick up on the moment they got the order in their earphones.
1
Trump uses people, then throws them under the bus.
( same old, same old )
14
I think most of Trumps behavior comes from deep insecurity. Lonely guy
13
I've run out of ways to says this, but the problem isn't even really Trump himself, it's the propaganda apparatus that enables his lies to propagate unquestioned. He can say anything and it becomes true, or 'as true as anything else' when Fox broadcasts it.
Trump is only a symptom/result - the disease is untruth masked as truth, and propaganda outlets like Fox and Sinclair are the carriers.
The U.S. is the entity getting sicker by the day.
26
Trump's personal attorney pays off a porn star with whom Trump had an affair, and "it has nothing to do with him." Just how gullible is the "Fox and Friends" set? Had it not been for Trump's relationship to Cohen it's seems fair to assume that Cohen's "business affairs" would not be getting a thorough colonoscopy by the FBI. It was by way of the special prosecutor that Cohen was brought under scrutiny if I understand it correctly. If absolutely nothing else seems true from Trump's morning ramblings on "Fox and Friends" - the fact that Trump will literally throw anybody under the bus to save his own skin is glaringly obvious. It makes his claims of being prepared to run into an active shooting scene to save teens even more comical (not that the situation is comical just that Trump would consider ANYBODY before considering himself).
15
If the president would ever watch a PBS show, he probably would take it personally when the announcer says "...viewers like you."
10
Except "viewers like you" refers to individuals who have donated to PBS, and trump doesn't go into his pocket for anything. Just ask the various charities to which he's claimed to have donated...
10
Mr. Cohen handled just “a tiny, tiny little fraction” of his legal work, Mr. Trump said. So true. It has been widely reported that Mr. Trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits, going back decades. Two years ago, USA Today reported that Trump was involved at a minimum of 3,500 lawsuits over 30 years. Last May, the Boston Globe reported that Trump has been sued 134 times in federal court since taking office. What other citizen, much less a president can boast such a record. Mr. Trump has the brass to label the FBI and the Justice Department as being run by crooks. If it's true that Mr. Cohen fixed dozens and dozens of non-disclosure agreements to silence women allegedly involved with Mr. Trump, it is bizarre that he would try to distance himself from this "tiny" lawyer.
17
I heard this man yelling on the radio and thought my husband must have hit the wrong station. But no, it was Mr Trump and it was truly alarming. His Stormy Daniel’s comments were part of a long rant about unrelated topics. Fox News staff had to finally end it. The man appears to be losing it. Get him on meds or get him out.
29
Only way he gets through this is if his legal team manages to wire his jaw shut.
17
I so hope Mr. Cohen can enjoy the view from under that bus!
17
This rant (and his motivation to even call Fox n Friends) proves Trump is delusional. Are "we" really going to let him meet with Kim Jong-un?
18
Wow! Kanye West and Donald Trump light up Twitter with what appears to many as the tweets of someone about ready to collapse. I say this as someone who grew up in a home with a bi-polar parent.
Meanwhile, its the birthday of our lovely First Lady and the president didn't get her a present because he says he has been so busy. Its not like he could just go online somewhere, say Amazon, and have something nice delivered to her motorcade. No, he is too busy rambling on t.v. and tweeting all hours of the night.
14
"From what I see he did absolutely nothing wrong..." said the robber to the thief.
8
Trump previously said he knew nothing about the deal with Daniels, now he speaks freely about the details. The Presidential Lies continue to pile up.
How many lies did Clinton tell before he was impeached? Not as many as this guy I bet.
History will not be kind to the senior Republicans who have aided Trump. I guess that’s why some have resigned.
18
Trump sounds like that drunk relative you can't get off the phone. For the tenth time this week.
15
Giuliani must be convinced that the raid produced clear evidence, 'on many sides'. Trump is using the age old mitigation tactic of getting out in front of it.
Cohen is facing many difficult situations:
- he has a very small client base and it has been stated not all are paying clients
- his Taxi medallion business is losing value, quickly, based upon disruptive technologies and subway expansion
- his Trump property holdings now have a reduced market interest, with reports that the properties cannot sell at all.
- Small businesses have reported trouble in receiving proper payments from Trump organization as soon as he no longer needs them. Cohen may have uncollectible receivables.
Cohen may be forced to cling to Trump even more fiercely as his options are more limited every day and 'hoping' Trump pays may be his best bet.
18
Mr. Trump couldn't wait to throw him under the bus. He stopped short of calling him just a coffee boy but underplayed his role and implied if his businesses are crooked, nothing to do with him. It seems likely Mr. Cohen is negotiating his deal to roll over.
But this investigation is likely more about following the real money than hush money or collusion. Financial logic says Mr. Trump used, or allowed to be used, his companies as money laundering entities. He's certainly not afraid of public sexual escapades or even campaign finance irregularities, those are easily dismissed. Money laundering, not so much.
30
I believe you are correct, Kathy. Keep your eye on the money laundering aspect of this sordid tale. I suspect his companies have been doing this for many years.
15
Finally figured out where I’ve seen this performance before: the famous final courtroom scene in The Caine Mutiny where an insanely paranoid Humphrey Bogart rants and raves about all those conspiring against him while fingering ball bearings obsessively.
Does Trump own a fidget spinner by any chance?
32
Probably doesn't own the fidget spinner but with his short fingers he probably can't get them into the spinner. Dead on with the Caine Mutiny...
'paranoia runs deep, into your life it will creep...'
11
Trump hires people to spin his fidget.
9
At least the naval captain in that film had at one time been a competent officer.
4
Trump: "I'm not involved, and I've been told I'm not involved. I have nothing to do with his business."
Mueller F.B.I. and SDNY attorneys: Think again.
19
Comey says that Trump has above-average intelligence and that, by talking incessantly, he catches his listeners up in his narrative and makes them unable to interject and, presumably, form their own thoughts. Listening to this Fox interview you can hear it. This is the way Trump talks at rallies and his adherents love it which is why they'll love this disjointed ramble through his top 10 peeves. The phenomenon is truly weird. Doesn't his family notice how odd he is?
I hope Cohen does what he needs to do to save himself.
36
Trump is a cult leader with cult following. There is no reasoning with either.
26
The extended self-persecution rant reminded me of a Frank Burns (MASH) quote: "I wouldn't be paranoid if everybody wasn't out to get me!"
32
In the 1950s Joseph McCarthy was a US Senator who railed against Communism and ruined many lives of those who refused to testify and name others, their Constitutional right. Congress went along with this Red Scare. He was a deranged bully and continued for years until famed journalist Edward R. Murrow put him on the air and let him ramble, almost without interruption. Finally, the country saw the incoherent monster he was and his scourge ended.
That's what I was thinking while watching clips of Mr. Trump's Fox and Friends diatribe. It may prove to be that justice won't bring him down but he will bring himself down as even his staunchest supporters realize he's just a peevish child flaunting his ego. Some may not care but those who still honor our country's values might.
41
trump keeps opening his mouth. Each time he does it creates a new series of risks but it confirms his complicity. Saying that he is attempting to "distance himself" is not correct. Each time anyone tries to read into a comment he makes it reinforces the subject. In this case it is the fact that trump is joined at the ip with Michael Cohen....his "fixer". trump is in quicksand, verbally thrashing about.
15
Poor Crooked Cohen. Mr. BigHands has now intimated to his Foxy Friends that he knew about Stormy's story all along and was aware that his fixer was fixin' to fix Stormy.
Why am I not surprised?
34
The foot in mouth office holder
God bless his stupidity
35
Trump is becoming more unhinged, and his creaking is becoming louder and more grating.
He's make life hell for his staff, his wife, and his country. But worst of all, his definition of 'justice' is anything that benefits him alone.
32
Trash Mouth Trump is the darling of himself as well as King ot
the New York nightclub gadabouts and playmates. He knows no restraints of tax returns or, seemingly, sexual desires. Are there no qualifications for the highest office in the land?
19
From what I heard, Trump totally went nuts on his call to Fox & Friends this morning (I can't watch Fox for very long without getting a massive headache). He couldn't stay focused on any one thing for very long and swerved all over the place with his problems and enemies. Frankly, I don't know about anyone else, but I've had it up to here with this insanity. He honestly thinks he can get away with just about anything, and so far, he's been right. He's got all the republicans bowing and scraping and kissing his ring. Enter Michael Avenatti, lawyer for Stormy Daniels. Mr. Avenatti seems to know exactly what he's doing, he's not one bit afraid of Trump or his "associates," and I think this man and his client may just be the undoing of the most corrupt administration this country has ever experienced. Mr. Avenatti is a worthy adversary to Donald Trump.
91
Normally I avoid Fox like the plague it is but it was so worth it to see the stunned look on the faces of the crew.
26
Does Trump ever care that he’s a lousy liar? He contradicts himself all the time. Perhaps he believes the others are dumb or he can lie with impunity without detection. In January he said he would speak to Robert Mueller under oath.
Trump said Cohen “did nothing wrong in that matter. Mr. Cohen handled just “a tiny, tiny little fraction” of his legal work. Yet on April 5, on board Air Force One he said he didn’t know about the payment of $130,000 that the porn star Stormy Daniels received from his personal lawyer Cohen on the eve of the 2016 election. When was asked why Cohen made the payment, Trump said: “You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You’ll have to ask Michael.”
Trump can't stay away from Cohen's "legal troubles," because he is the source of Cohen's many problems.
38
The only thing grandpa Trump did not shout today was "Get off my lawn!"
39
On e again, DJT proves that his demand for loyalty goes in only one direction.
19
The GOP is a national disgrace...period.
76
Mafia Don is hurtling toward a cliff. Though clearly self delusional, even he must realize on some level that his downfall is coming.
33
This, like everything else about this vile man and his amoral GOP enablers, will sail silently and unremarked over the heads of his acolytes.
Pravda. . I mean Fox, will instruct them what to think, and that will be that.
33
He’s going to need a fleet of buses to throw people under.
18
Maybe Fox & Friends is baiting him too. What great reality television. An unhinged President of the United States, on Fox! Great job, Fox & Friends, for getting him to do what he does on national television!
28
Makes Howard Beal in “Network “ look like Thomas Jefferson by contrast.
8
Cohen has like, one client. Trump. But this isn't about him...noooooo.
25
At this point, the press should laugh whenever Trump lies. Any president representing himself on Fox & Friends is clearly a comedian worth a laugh a minute, and nothing else.
Thrilled that he's been caught lying about Stormy Daniels- this should now be the end of this fable.
24
Just another low level volunteer. MAGA and friends.
11
And the deplorable presidency continues........
21
Re: Headline: "Trump Distances Himself From Cohen’s Legal Troubles..."
Sure...
Like Francesco Schettino has tried to distance himself from, (the late...), Costa Concordia!
9
This is a week of seeing what happens when you drain the swamp, all the vermin are exposed and are running for cover. Trump jumping ship on Cohen, Cohen taking the fifth, Priutt being exposed for the fraud and crook that he is, Carson is trying to raise rents on America's poorest, the nominee to head the VA is accused of being a drunken pill pusher and serial abuser of subordinates and to make the list creatures of the swamp complete we have Rudi Guillani joining the Trump legal team. The managerie tent is getting pretty full but the circus marches on. My mother often cautioned me "you are who you hang out with". Let that be a dire warning to all in this administration.
51
This is decidedly different: a ship (of state) deserting a sinking rat. Trump dosen't back up anyone. Caveat emptor Trumpites!
13
Only someone living in a self-deluded bubble would give themselves an A+ considering that he had next to nothing to do with the tax plan (except give real estate developers another big tax break). All he had to do was scrawl his overwrought signature on a piece of paper (and I seem to recall he almost forgot to do THAT). As for his other successes, they were GOP wishes thrown in front of him with little input from his highness.
The failures he's been responsible for he's not mentioned. They are too many to note here. But we are reminded daily of his unfitness and his poll numbers show him to be wildly unpopular with anyone other than mystical evangelicals.
18
https://blog.harvardlawreview.org/the-coming-storm-hush-money-and-the-fe...
An instructive read...
6
Another one bites the dust, I mean, another one under the bus! (same Queen tune!)
16
This is so..."Roy Cohn"...Mr Trumps attorney from decades ago and assistant to Joe McCarthy during the communist "witch hunt" of the 1950's.
Roy Cohn was the master of never apologizing for his or his clients misdeeds and to go the extra step of destroying anyone who brought them up with lies and half truths.
He taught our President well....
10
Hey KellyAnne! It was great watching you talk overChris Cuomo last night, as you attempted to defend Fox’s Friend,
President Trump and attack James Comey. You made no sense and just ended up sounding like all Trump defenders : loud, insulting and combative. Fortunately, Trump came to your rescue this morning on Fox and Friends. Keep up the good work.
21
It's sadly all too easy to find contradictions in any Trump interview. He told these Fox hosts that the money paid to Stormy Daniels did not come from campaign funds despite having previously stated that he didn't know where it came from. He defended Michael Cohen even though in the past he said that "the Mob takes the Fifth....If you're innocent why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?" He complained that some prosecutors in Mueller's office gave money to Hillary Clinton even though he has contributed more to her campaigns than any of them. When will enough be enough?
13
Trump and Fox should talk every morning. That way Trump, who by his own admission, has the best words can give his messages to the American people. Further, Trump will feel a jolt of dopamine and will not need to see Dr. Jackson that morning.
20
Trump is really going into a full blown psychological meltdown.
14
Trump was a spoiled brat raised by nannies; he was allowed to abuse them verbally and physically. He is still that brat abusing his adversaries verbally, and sometimes threatening them physically with bombs. This is no longer just fodder for late night comedians; this is seriously frightening behavior in a President. We can only hope there are some in the WH delegated to pull him back from really catastrophic behavior. They existed during the last days of the Nixon Presidency; surely they exist now with a man obviously who is obviously unhinged.
4
Here Fox “News” has an exclusive, 30-minute interview with the POTUS. But you go to their website and no news item about it whatsoever. No summary. Not even a “Trump unloads on Lyin’ Comey” news item. Nothing. Except if you scroll way, WAY down, they have posted the clip of the segment. Without comment. No analysis. No news. That they still manage to continue the charade of being a news outlet is amazing.
37
A rule of thumb for lawyers is, allegedly, "if somebody is going to jail it better be the client"
15
There's a corollary: "Get your fee up front."
4
Cohen is not merely going to flip. He's going to do cartwheels down the hall for Denying Donnie.
12
He’s gonna make Cirque du Soleil performers look like marble statues, lol.
3
Suggesting that IQ45 is capable of doing the job of President is indefensible. Today's un-glued rant on Faux is proof.
11
How ironic! You would think Fox and Friends would not have set up Trump. With friends like that, maybe Trump should not be embracing “Fox News” so easily. “Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut”. DeNiro. Trump rats on everyone and lies every chance he gets.
6
Bone-chilling and disturbing is the best way to describe Trump's free-association rant with Fox and Friends. The upside is that through these free-wheeling rants exposes Trump's dark underbelly which will hopefully lead to impeachment or jail. The downside is that I can't get a good night's sleep knowing that this incompetent fool is running my country.
64
Who among us have had a good nights sleep since he took office? Or since he let his minions loose on us. If we don't stand up, if we don't fight, if we don't vote we are not going to ever get a good nights rest.
14
The Queeg allusion great! I'll have to go back and read more of the Caine Mutiny.
8
"Distanced himself?" Word salad like this man was spitting is equally distant from any point on the rational map. How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?
I certainly hope it was the Ambien and Provigil talking. If the man was straight and sober, he's in a bad, bad way.
27
Despite lowering Cohen to "coffee boy" status and then elevating him to his lawyer in the Daniels affair, one of the most telling moments was when Trump in one breath told us he never, ever watches CNN anymore, and in the next breathe went on to tell us all about the Comey Town Hall with Andy Cooper on CNN last night. He is taking the term pathological liar to a whole new level!
28
By accounts (submitted to the Senate Committee charged with vetting him), Dr. Ronny Jackson had/has been prescribing Provigil (as well as Ambien) to members of the White House staff.
Provigil (Modafinil) is often touted as a 'smart drug' but, of course, it doesn't make ANYONE 'smarter'...only more alert and awake.
Now…I don't KNOW but, from his seemingly manic behavior and unguarded tongue, it seems likely to ME that Dr. Jackson has also introduced Mr. Trump to this (relatively new) drug.
I ask our readers to look up the properties of Provigil online…and then come to their own conclusions.
This, perhaps, also explains Mr. Trump’s seeming ‘affection’ for Dr. Jackson.
20
Interesting!
2
The three Fox News folks sitting on the couch during the call looked mighty uncomfortable, squirming and grimacing, while DT went on and on getting increasingly lathered. The one big takeaway: he acknowledged Stormy Daniels and the payment he said he knew nothing about a few short weeks ago.
32
At what time today will Sarah Huckabee Sanders announce that, "Mr. Cohen was a 'low-level volunteer' who didn't have any real input on the day to day operations of the White House, as President Trump barely knew him."?
32
You know, I'm in two minds about this. On the one hand, I really do wish he'd just stop (well really shut up and stop), because then we wouldn't have to listen to his drivel. But on the other hand.... the more he yaps, the more there is out there and on the record. And that gives Mueller and Co more and more ammunition against him, and that's a good thing. But the problem with that is we have to listen to his drivel... sigh.
23
The $130,000 was generated somewhere. It doesn't actually grow in the Hush Money Tree. An entire Shell Corporation had to be created to disguise $130,000 as just some nuts falling from a tree.
So, Trump having "nothing to do with his business” seems implausible. Cohen made one shell corporation, so gold nuts would magically fall into Stormy Daniel's purse. The part of DELIVERING by shell company checks and the part of NON-DISCLOSING sources of funds, that is Cohen's BUSINESS of legal services.
If Trump doesn't need umpteen shakedowns over the last decade from the Hush Money Tree, then what's Cohen for?
Trump separates himself from other shell corporations' Money Trees. What's less believable: that or pardoning is a "stupid question"?
11
At least if it's "a coven of democrats" managing the "witch hunt," they shouldn't have too much trouble finding what they're looking for...
8
I found two of Trump's comments quite interesting. The first seemed likely to be true, though the Don was clearly parsing the truth: that the criminal investigation was focused on Mr. Cohen’s business dealings and had nothing to do with his legal representation of the president. The second, "From what I understand, they’re looking at his businesses,” he added.
Word is that Cohen didn't do a lot of legal work for Trump per se, that he was deeply involved in business dealings--with Trump, his main client...just not a legal client. Cohen, Ivanka and Jared served as the core of his global development team. When you wade through the plethora of investigative articles about the Trump Org, ranging from the recent Rolling Stone piece on Cohen to the Financial Times series to Time Magazine and the New Yorker, the NY Times, New Republic, Reuters and Slate, you see how many shady characters were involved and how much dirty money was laundered in Trump's business in many countries around the world. No wonder Trump is trying to create some distance from all that, as in "they only worked for me, I don't remember what they looked like, and I didn't know what they were up to." I love it when you tell us lies, Don Trump. Do tell us some more.
24
"Nobody has done what I’ve been able to do." Well, that's true, buddy. But American democracy did have a pretty good run.
41
I recommend that every American watch this morning's interview carefully. It is hard to imagine a less self-aware, less articulate, less intelligent, less honorable, less patriotic, less cynical man than the man who is (without irony) our President---the so-called leader of the free world. This will not end well.
68
Today's Trump rant confirms the man is unhinged and dangerous. If he's this out-of-control speaking with his enablers on Fox News, what happens when he has a disagreement behind closed doors? Grandpa needs his meds, Ivanka — time to take him back to his NY Tower perch and keep him out of trouble permanently.
22
Does anybody else feel a shift in the air? Maybe the wind stirring the emperor's "suit"? Between Ronny, Stormy and the A.M. Foxies...the barometric pressure seems to be dropping...
15
Cohen is not only going to flip on Trump. He's going to turn cartwheels down the hall for Denyin' Donnie.
12
There is a problem with the Trumpian language "he represented me". In layman's terms, it need not mean a professional relationship. Someone can act in your interests without informing you of specifics, and not even be a lawyer. And then you can say he represented me, even though what he did was illegal and you had no knowledge of it. This is the way to create plausible deniability ... authorize someone to do llegal stuff to protect you, and tell you nothing about it. Stormy Daniels has a contract with a shell company, and Cohen represents the shell company. Just because she thought the agreement was with Trump doesn't invalidate it. If Cohen admits to giving her money, that is a campaign finance violation and thus the fifth amendment.
5
I wanted them to ask why he doesn’t reimburse Cohen the $130k.
10
"Yeah, he represented me to arrange the illegal hush money payment to the sex industry worker whom I had adulterous sex with while my wife was home with our newborn baby. And both me and my spokespeople have repeatedly lied about it."
And those family value-conservative Christian Fox viewers will be perfectly fine with this. Even worse the media will continue to treat them as deserving of respect for their hypocritically and falsely held views.
16
And so it begins. Every crook and liar for them self.
Trump's rant on Fox & Friends was anger, some rage and fear. He's trying to calm the base and foster his innocence. Of course Cohen will take the fall. The question is will he flip now that he knows he's left dangling out there in the wind.
As far as reality show dramas go you can't make this stuff up.
Stormy, Trump coming undone and Dr. Ronny called out and stepping off and that's just this morning. Not to mention Pruitt in Congress being questioned on his ethics.
Thanks Trump voters. You've brought the swamp to our door and they are drowning in it.
65
Before signing on as Trump's fixer, Cohen should have insisted on an oath of loyalty.
27
But like a lot of us, he didn't think the Donald would actually be ELECTED. The comeuppance is dawning. Loyalty has its price; I hope they both pay.
5
Want to know what Trump is REALLY thinking?
Tune in to Fox And Friends.
He chatters away like nobody's business, and gives the rest of us a chance to be the proverbial " fly on the wall".
20
How can anyone NOT think that with constant ravings about the same things again and again that Trump is utterly TERRIFIED that what he's done will come up, he'll be impeached, convicted, then turned over to the legal system and imprisoned.
He's also clearly totally insane and unhinged.
Why is he still President?
45
My god, will someone in the GOP please stand up and say this man is unfit to be POTUS? Enough.
72
Trump says that the investigation is just about Cohen's business dealings. He has three clients and lists himself as Trump's personal attorney. We know that he has been involved in at least two payoffs to women who have stated that they had sexual affairs with Trump.
Trump's claim that the investigation has little to do with him is laughable.
21
"Reality freak show" is right. It's real because the Republican Congress ALLOWS it to be real. Go figure!
14
It's real because Trump's large corporate donors want it to be real; it called a Plutocracy: government of the many by the few.
3
Dear New York Times, please stop the false equivalency in the interest of "fairness", and simply report factual information.
Case in point: "Mr. Mueller’s defenders say he recruited his team based on expertise and skill, not on partisan affiliations." Phrased this way, the sentence seems to imply that ONLY his "defenders" consider Mueller to be unbiased, that there is legitimacy to accusations against his neutrality.
Have you forgotten Newt Gingrich's initial "Superb choice... impeccable credentials"?, Paul Ryan's initial confidence that Mueller would "Serve with integrity and professionalism"? Etc., etc., etc.?
By omitting the information that Republicans have reversed themselves about Mueller, you give credence to that reversal.
37
I caught a piece of this Interview (if you could call it that) this morming. Trump was in full rant mode-totally unhinged.
He went on and on about "my Justice Department," and what a "disgrace" the F.B.I. was. He said he wasn't going to interfere with the Justice Department, and then said he might however, change his mind (which seemed to me to be a threat to fire Jeff Sessions and/or Rod Rosenstein.) The hosts of the show were clearly alarmed and kept trying to interrupt Trump or change the subject to stop him from incriminating or embarassing himself any more than he already had.
31
“Nobody has done what I’ve been able to do and I did it despite the fact that I had a phony cloud over my head,” said Donald Trump. Well, that’s actually both true and extremely rich! Yes, indeed; I can go with that.
9
Plus the "cloud" is STILL over his head, except it's gotten darker over the last month or so.
I've never, ever come across a person whose insecurity and ego are so diametrically opposed. I guess he thinks he compensates for the insecurity by bloating his ego. Wait, I just now realized that his ego, like literally everything else in his life, is wholly fabricated.
Deep down - well, as deep as his limited intellect allows - he's in agony. He wants so badly to be accepted by some imagined upper stratum of society. However, since he has no integrity, morals, nuance, tact, ethics, ideology, vocabulary, honesty, compassion, empathy, and (every other laudable quality a person may possess), he tries to accomplish this acceptance by sheer bluster and noise.
Does he have even ONE redeemable quality? I'm not being rhetorical here.
Also, the psychological projections he spews forth on a daily basis is utterly mind blowing. He underestimates people and their ability to see that what he accuses others of being guilty of, he himself carries the real guilt.
How did we end up here?
5
And he is supposedly the apex states person of our country.
6
Soon Fox will stop taking his calls, for Trump's own good. Maybe if it were taped and heavily edited, they can keep him from further incriminating himself and revealing his stunning lack of qualifications for the job he accidentally fell in to.
17
As long as $130,000 goes unaccounted for, it doesn't matter what Trump, Cohen or Avenatti says. This is going the way of the IRS and the history of organized criminals who try to avert tax laws to launder money for illegitimate dealings.
Sit back and relax, Mueller or not, the FBI is the lawnmower and Trump's gonna get a haircut.
45
“From what I see,” he continued, “he did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going into this, which would have been a problem.”
If Michael had paid the bill for a convention hall for a campaign rally out of his own pocket 2 weeks before the election, wouldn't that be a campaign contribution? Unless we believe that the payment 10 years after the event was just coincidental, the President just admitted that Michael made a $130K contribution with Trump's knowledge. Yeah, that's a problem.
36
Trump's continued rants and delusional behavior are beyond alarming. They are dangerous in many ways. Name calling, recitation of lies that easily are proven to be false, and on and on. Let's get this guy a REAL doctor. Even the Fox people, a.k.a. Trump TV, seem worried by his unhinged rambling. Let's not forget: 1) Mueller and many working with him are Republicans; 2) Even Sessions says there's no reason to investigate Hillary further, so need to drop this banana republic ruse, 3) there is no "witch hunt" in the Russia probe as evidenced by several guilty pleas already and counting. Time to get state courts to follow up with appropriate investigations and charges. That way we can take the demented Trump's pardon power out of the equation. There would be no Trump presidency without Russian involvement and Comey undermining so late in the campaign. MUST PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY AND ENSURE JUSTICE FOR ALL!
32
Noteworthy part for me: "He said he had tried not to interfere in Justice Department matters, which in many past administrations have been protected from political interference. But he warned that “at some point I won’t.”"
Congress needs to pass protections for the Special Counsel, and now.
45
"There were no campaign funds going into this, which would have been a problem.”
Preemptive denial is one of Trump's favorite tactics. So we can pretty much conclude that the payoff to Daniels was a campaign contribution.
56
Gee, I am sure Trump hardly knew Cohen. I mean, ten years of working together, what's that? Trump has - and doubtless needs - an army of lawyers. How can he be expected to remember who they are? A few working on this corruption charge, a few more filing for bankruptcy, a few creating another fraudulent business, what's a "fixer" in all that? We had a nodding acquaintance. Nothing more. Trust me.
22
Trump is not getting enough sleep. I imagine he’s worried about all this investigating that’s going on—his business dealings, his Russian connection, his Stormy affair and who knows what else. He lies awake at night wondering what he should do and his judgement, which has never been very good, is more shaky by the minute.
23
Trump brags about the tax-cut legislation.
Wells Fargo was just fined $1 billion for defrauding the public. But Wells Fargo received a $4 billion tax cut.
Thanks to Trump for making Well Fargo whole, and then some.
41
“From what I see,” he continued, “he did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going into this, which would have been a problem.”
So where did the $130,000 come from? Is the plan to label it a general retainer to take care of anything that might come up?. We all recall that Michael was also a deputy campaign finance chair at the GOP.
I'm no lawyer, but I would guess that funds drawn by a deputy campaign finance chairman from a general slush fund to suppress adverse, pre-election news, would still be considered a campaign donation.
18
Maybe the $130,000 came from Russia for services rendered.
3
The $130k came from Cohen remortgaging his house, if you can believe that. Which, with Trump as a client, I can believe. Sounds like Trump didn't pay him, either.
4
Did the bank loan him renovation money for paint, plaster, plywood AND porn star hush money? Wouldn't that be bank fraud? ahem... cough.. cough
4
As a lawyer, I am baffled by the legal strategy employed by counsel for Mr. Cohen. Is he representing himself? If that's true, the level of incompetence makes sense, but if not, this is some shabby work.
A jury may not weigh taking the Fifth against a witness in a criminal trial, just as it may not weigh a failure of the defendant to testify in his own defense. No one is required to testify against himself in a criminal proceeding; that's part of the due process awarded to defendants and wanna-be defendants in criminal cases.
HOWEVER, if one claims the protections of the Fifth Amendment in a civil trial (which Mr. Cohen did during a preliminary conference or pleading) the trier of fact can (and will) consider it contra the witness/respondent.
So, rather than waiting to see what he's asked, in the hope that there might be something to which he could testify openly, Mr. Cohen and his lawyer just announced to the judge, Mr. Avenetti, and the world that his client is so liable for wrongdoing that he's just going to throw the towel in now.
At least he doesn't have to worry about Trump's enforcer, since he's indisposed.
257
interesting comment, any chance you might be able to clarify your 3rd paragraph. not a lawyer and maybe I'm still stuck on "island time"... but would be interested in knowing why you see his actions as problematic...
5
Upon review, I could have written that more clearly. Because he has taken the Fifth, particularly without waiting for any actual questions, the Plaintiff's counsel can point to that as evidence against Cohen (he couldn't do that in a criminal trial; we cannot even mention it) and the judge will instruct the jury that they may weigh the fact that he refused to testify against him.
If the case will be heard by a judge, the judge already knows that he or she can hold Cohen's refusal to answer questions against him.
That's why good lawyers have their clients wait until a question is asked before taking the Fifth. On the one hand, counsel for the Plaintiff could be so incompetent that he or she never asks the magic questions (not the case here, though; Mr. Avenetti is sharp as a tack) or the case could settle before Cohen's butt is ever in a witness chair.
In fact, invoking the Fifth MUST be done question by question, so a blanket announcement, particularly when Mr. Cohen has consistently maintained that he did nothing wrong, is mystifying.
5
"So, rather than waiting to see what he's asked, in the hope that there might be something to which he could testify openly, Mr. Cohen and his lawyer just announced to the judge, Mr. Avenetti, and the world that his client is so liable for wrongdoing that he's just going to throw the towel in now. "
The blanket assertion of the fifth makes sense, since Cohen does not know what he might be charged with, and he has no personal interest in the result of the suit between Trump and Daniels, and the defamation suit by Daniels against him has only nominal damages.
He can always change his mind, too.
Note, Cohen already dropped his suits against other parties....he's concentrating on what's important.
I'd have done the same.
1
Listening to Trump this morning, I tried to put myself in the place of someone who really cared about the man. If a relative or friend of mine went on tv and carried on like that, occasionally spilling the beans, I would be seriously concerned about his mental stability or his substance intake. Today, Trump was the drunken, unhinged relative at Thanksgiving that has to be invited, but who causes eye-rolls around the table for the entire meal. Even the Fox talking-heads were stunned and feebly tried to keep him on track. How long can this charade of an administration continue. If there is a real world crisis, who is going to take the reins? I am so on edge - waiting for the other shoe to drop. He must not serve out his term. He isn't going to be stable enough, going forward. It really is absolutely mind-boggling that the Republicans are not uttering one word of dissent or caution. It is crystal clear that their priorities are to keep pushing forward their agenda and holding on to their seats. Well, you better hold on to your seats, Republicans. It gets so much more bumpy going forward.
313
Could you think of anyone who really cares about him? I'm not sure that person exists.
23
Today? When is he not that relative?
14
MAYBE Ivanka? I guess Michael Cohen cared at one time, but I think Trump incinerated that bridge today. Hmmmm. Tough question.
2
This lunatic guy is supposed to be the President of the United States. Just let it sink in.
I’m writing from across the Atlantic and it must be a terrible US reality-freak-show I’ve been watching.
How can any of this be real. 65 Million people thought this was the better option? You’re kidding me?
Everyday another episode of “how to wreck a country in 24 months”. Only in America.
177
Sadly Susan, you are spot on.
6
I agree. I'm watching it all unfold from Australia. I onky subscribed to the NYTimes 6 months ago. Now i can't look away. It really is like watching a car wreck. You just can't look away and your brain just cannot fathom the horror.
9
We survived the Tea Pot Dome scandal; we lived through the Civil War and the Trail of Tears; we survived the Iran/Contra scandal; we survived meddling in Chile's election causing a decent man to be murdered in public; we survived unseating a popular elected President in Iran and the seating of a bogus fake "aristocrat" who had to flee the scene, leaving us with hostages to pay for with Iran's bank deposits; we survived the bank failures here and abroad caused by Wall St. shenanigans, and so on. Bank regs put in place have since been removed by this Congress. The Voting Rights Act has been gutted. No funding for infrastructure? Funding to pay the Saudis to run toll roads here, for profit? We have our work cut out for us here at home; forget Assad. Get rid of this corrupt President and his minions in Congress. We don't have an FDR in the wings; however, any Democrat would be better than a criminal family squatting in the West Wing.
2
Oh. My. God. The Congressional Republicans HAVE GOT to wake up and see the debased, immoral creature they enable. He thinks and acts like a tin-pot dictator, above the law. We can only save ourselves and our constitution by voting in the Democrats in November.
80
They are not asleep. Nobody is walking around unaware. There are forces at work who feed on weakness. That's how we got Cheney and Rumsfeld, through the Ford White House after Watergate. Reagan used the same playbook as Hoover, and these people that back the current administration of debased, unethical, tin pot, Teapot Dome republicans love.
4
They will wake up..in November
5
They see, they hear, they know. They just don't care. Republicans will be known from now on going forward as the party of to Heck with everyone else. It's about us and the Koches and Mercers, and all the deserving rich we can bow down to.
6
Not me. There's no collusion.
Not me. I'm not involved.
Not me. They said I wasn't being investigated.
Not me. I didn't touch those women.
Not me. I didn't renege on that contract.
Not me. Not my fault the business went bankrupt.
Have you ever known any other single person who has so much to deny?
108
St Reagan: on less taxes (raised them on the middle /lower class' 7 of 8 years; being anti-union despite being prez of the screen actors guild for 30 years; denied Iran Contra and knowledge of the CIA cocaine biz twice until the truth came out; smaller government- it grew exponentially under him; etc
2
Mr. Cohen displays the type of "loyalty" of a battered spouse. After each ER visit, we hear, "But I love him. He doesn't mean it." Don't expect him to flip.
37
Great insight F/V.
1
You've painted the right portrait of Michael Cohen. Unfortunately, his children are going to be vicariously dragged through the meat grinder with him.
2
This rambling, out of control spew of disconnected ideas on a major television network (entertainment or news is beside the point) takes place as the Senate calmly confirms Mike Pompeo as Sec. of State as if the Trump administration can just continue to do business as usual in nominating and confirming hopelessly unfit candidates for important government positions.
How do Republicans continue to face their families or sleep without nightmares when they must know their support of Trump is the most dangerous weapon facing the US and the world today? It is not normal for the President of the US to rant incoherently on live TV for more than 30 minutes presenting a vision of reality which cannot be defended in any way as evidence-based. How does this end well for the country and its citizens?
105
April 5:
"Asked why Michael Cohen paid the money if the allegations were untrue, Trump told reporters, “You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael’s my attorney.” Asked if he knew about the payment to Daniels, Trump said “No.” Asked if he knew where the money came from, Trump told reporters, “No, I don’t know.”
April 26:
“He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me. From what I see, he did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going into this, which would have been a problem.”
April 18:
"In tweeting about Pompeo's trip, Trump also introduced an element of potential confusion, by saying that Pompeo met with Kim "last week."
April 26:
In the Fox interview, Mr. Trump also said that Mike Pompeo, was not originally scheduled to meet with North Korea’s leader. “He wasn’t supposed to meet with Kim Jong-un, but he did,” Mr. Trump said. "It was more than a hello. They got along.”
April 24:
"Trump calls Iran deal 'insane' in meeting with Macron."
April 26:
"Macron said changes in the US stance on several world issues might work in the short term but were "very insane in the medium to long term."
April 25:
"Dr. Ronny Jackson provided such a large supply of Percocet to a White House staff member that he threw his own medical staff into a panic.”
April 26:
"Fox's Brian Kilmeade seemed concerned as the president railed at length about the “fake news” media. “I’m not your doctor, but I would recommend you watch less of them.”
Uh oh....
34
Wow, if Cohen doesn't flip after this, he's seriously out of his mind.
43
There is a big difference between believing you distanced yourself from your lawyer's legal troubles, and actually doing it.
20
Let's have more of these rants by Trump on Fox and Friends. Very revealing. The delusions and falsehoods in his rant were both amazing and appalling. This is the guy who is supposed to be making decisions about the future of this country and the world.
One has to wonder if he lies (makes stuff up) like this because he thinks these lies are true or he is hoping that by saying these things they will become true. Who can say what is going on in his addled mind.
Trump lives in a universe of his own creation. He lies, makes stuff up about things he has no idea about, talks about how everyone is persecuting him, and goes off again and again about issues that happened long ago. If your old uncle acted like this, you would be seeking a court order to put him in a facility for his own protection. Trump has been in office for over a year and he is much more delusional now than when he took office. He is ill and getting much worse each day.
45
If Cohen ever had any doubt whether he should flip, Trump just confirmed that loyalty is a one-way street, and Cohen should take whatever deal he can get. And when even Fox realizes it needs to shut him up, it's further confirmation our current president has only a 'transmit' button and no 'receive.'
25
So let's see if I have this straight. Mr. Cohen has essentially 3 clients. A lecherous Ex-Republican Party official, Sean Hannity the infamous editorialist from Fox "News", and of course Mr. Trump. He has a decades long relationship with the President that had to involve Trump's business and personal disputes of various kinds. And the President would have us believe that nothing being looked at with Cohen's activities had anything to do with him. My guess is that about 35% of the American public will buy that line.....65% not so much.
31
We caught some of his interview on Fox this morning.
Mr. Trump came off as a bit unhinged, but what else is new?
Mr. Kilmeade ought to know a lot about fake news since he is at Fox.
14
Trump's rambling stream of consciousness rant /phone interview gives us a preview as to how he will perform in a Mueller interview if it ever comes to pass. Comey is correct in his characterization of his conversational style...."It was conversation-as-jigsaw-puzzle, with pieces picked up, then discarded, then returned to,........in rapid-fire sequence, pick up a piece, put it down, pick up an unrelated piece, put it down, return to the original piece, on and on."
While his stream of consciousness may reveal his moral intent in the obstruction case against him, it would be very difficult for the investigators to direct and redirect questions. His nonstop rambling would surely eat up the clock if a limited interview time is negotiated. A smart lawyer would use this to his advantage.
20
From one day to the next the story changes.The reliability of Trump’s statements is as short-lived as his attention span. Who can believe this man on anything? We are ready for his next best seller. The Art of the Lie.
16
I watched the video after reading this piece. Trump comes across as unhinged and seemingly lost in all kinds of stream of consciousness asides, grudges, and rants against DOJ, Comey, and Hillary. At times his friends at Fox tried to reel him but seemed unable. A look inside the mind of Trump is a disturbing sight.
23
Imagine. Trump is viewing and calling into Fox News!! What's wrong with this picture?? Shouldn't he be leading the country?? I've never witnessed chaos like this!
We're being held captive by this scheming, corrupt administration!
28
Actually, it's the cowards in Congress who are holding us captive to this freak show. They could end it at any time, and they refuse to.
Remember that in November.
15
I am torn between wanting trump to keep spouting, knowing that his uncontrolled rants are providing material to Mueller and Avenatti, and wanting to tell trump to just shut up and stop humiliating himself---and the country. Since I likely can't shut him up, I guess I'll just sit back, get popcorn and a drink, and watch him hang himself.
27
Didn't Trump say "Michael's my attorney and you'll have to ask him" while onboard Air Force One at the beginning of April?
"My attorney" sounds quite different from some guy who handles stuff occasionally.
This man is unhinged and doesn't seem to have to good sense to remain quiet. I certainly hope Cohen returns the favor.
17
Keeping in mind that the Cohen case was reassigned by Mueller, his office has not produced substantial evidence of voter tampering or obstruction of justice anytime recently. More than a year into the investigation, it is hard to remain confident of success. And if he doesn't come up with a blockbuster soon, there will be substantial Republican pressure to close the investigation. Democrats have theories, but none that seem to impress Mueller. A fair assessment of where everything is at has to be pretty pessimistic.
You're letting your bias get in the way of the facts here. You used to be better than this. Try again.
15
The Mueller investigation has been a resounding success. So far we have seen the tip of the iceberg and found significant illegal activity and foreign interference in a presidential election. Not everything is about Trump. Trump is under the water and Mueller is still diving into the cold swamp. Stay tuned for the next episodes. And why are you defending the unhinged lunatic anyway? Are you a 1%er?
10
Blind conformity is what you have to offer. And you repeatedly criticize original thinking. You can just say this is too original for me and forget the rest.
2
Avenatti is posturing but he is correct. Trump contradicted himself. The reversal is a liability on both sides. I can see how both Avenatti and the FBI want a straight answer right now. Trump is so worried about publicity he forgot about the technicalities of his legal trouble. If Cohen was representing Trump in the hush payment, the FBI is going to want establish a timeline. The judge in the Clifford case is going to need clarification as well. I'm sure Trump wants to settle with Clifford right about now. We should have another Kickstarter to keep Clifford from settling. Consider it a patriotic duty.
10
And Southern District NY just filed another document using Trumps interview this morning as corroborating evidence. He can’t help incriminating himself and Cohen when he opens his mouth.
12
Politics aside, this interview is why no lawyer wants to represent him.
15
If you were trained as I was in Piaget's developmental norms, one of the countless bizarre aspects of Trump's profile you might note is that he seems to have not developed the concept of object permanence with respect to his statements. An infant below the age of 8 months perceives that an object disappears once it is out of sight, while an older child understands that it continues to exist and will look for it.
Trump seems to think that what he said yesterday no longer exists today. There is seemingly no continuity to his reality.
Not a perfect analogy but it's something that struck me today.
30
She signed an agreement, broke it, and not being punished. What a sense of logic we have
1
This article is not about Stormy Daniels, please re-read for clarity.
In any case, however, she signed an agreement that wasn't signed by Trump (or Dennison) and so was never legally binding. She's not bound by a non-binding agreement. Are we straight on that?
12
Takes two to make an agreement. There's the logic.
8
'punished', interesting choice of words. No one else commenting here is confused about 'logic'. The NDA is a contract, it was signed by one one party and not the other; ergo, invalid contract. Capiche? At this point, Stormy accepting the money is irrelevant, where the funds came from is not. Simple, eh'?
2
In times to come it is not unlikely there will be a new entry in Webster's and/or in the Oxford English dictionary as follows: "Trumpism (noun): A behavioral characteristic denoting an extreme form of self-preservation as shown by publicly disavowing one's close colleagues and friends when those colleagues and friends fall into any sort of trouble. The precise cause of Trumpism is not absolutely demonstrable but it is thought that an unbounded love of one's ego coupled with a crippling inability to form genuine bonds of love and friendship may play a role."
14
He was blithering. I am alarmed, and concerned that the man is "losing it".
16
You're getting there, but very late to the party. His entire history was there for all to see.
10
If it was not abundantly clear why President Trump's lawyers do not want him to testify, anywhere, this interview put that into sharper focus. Can anyone imagine Trump on the witness stand? Any lawyer, two days out of law school, could ask a couple of open-ended questions, ones that dig into the President's many insecurities, and just let Trump do the rest.
Of course I don't know what these supposed admissions actually mean. The President acknowledged, during a television interview mind you, that he had fired Comey because of the "Russia thing", and that appears to have had no impact. One would have thought that such an admission of obstruction of justice might have had done something. The President and his minions simply double down, and the world watches, aghast, wondering how a cabal so obviously lying faces no sanction, either from supporters or lawmakers.
17
Nancy Drew or Harriet the Spy could nail rump to the wall, let alone a law school grad.
I look forward to seeing what the former FBI director, decorated military veteran and lifelong ethical public servant Robert Mueller will achieve.
4
Hard to distance yourself from your lawyer's problems when you''re insisting on going through the evidence against him. Hard to admit you lied about spending the night in Moscow an then call the guy who you talked to about it a liar. Hard, unless lying is as natural to you as breathing in your sleep.
9
"had nothing to do with his legal representation of the president." OK but what we are concerned with is his illegal representation of the president.
7
And yet again, Trump crosses his arms. His nonverbal insecurity and intransigence are deafening.
11
Cohen seems to have an above average life style. Where does he get his money? It certainly can't be from his legal practice. Last week he had to provide a list of his clients. He had three. One was Trump who now claims Cohen did a tiny tiny fraction of legal work. Another was Hannity who admits to giving him 10 dollars. And the other was some guy who forked over 1,5 million to some bunny. Don't know how much Cohen got but that client must be some put off when he found out another bunny was paid 150,000 and Stormy got 130,000 for pretty much the same thing. So Michael where's the money coming from?
10
There is no logic in this comment. The profitability of his law practice has nothing to do with the number of clients. Rather, it has to do with the total revenue received from, and costs incurred in, servicing those clients. One big client can be far more profitable than 100 small ones.
And the comparison between the $130k/$150k paid for Trump's affairs, and the $1.5mm paid to Broidy's mistress, is inapt. She became pregnant; the other two did not.
The total number of clients he has is three according to him. Which one of the three do you think is his 'big' client.
1
"If you are not guilty of a crime, what do you need immunity for?" Trump said at a campaign rally in Florida in September. "The MOB takes the Fifth Amendment!" Trump said at a campaign event in Iowa later that month. "If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment!?"
Yes, Donald. We wonder the same thing.
18
Wow! Is it just me, or does this morning's call-in show Trump to be more incoherent, self-contradictory, and divorced from the real world than ever?
We've come to expect the externalization of all responsibility, essentially, "I didn't do anything wrong, and if I did, it's not my fault, it's fault." And we see the hedging and contradictions ("I might or might not meet with Kim, and things might or might not work out") as simple mechanisms to allow Trump to take the credit if things go well and sidestep the responsibility if they don't.
But the delusional paranoia, his essentially saying, "They're all crooks and fakes and they're all out to get me," especially jumps out.
This is more than "embarrassing to America," as Schumer put it. This is really terrifying.
13
There was a recent piece in the Washington Post by a lawyer who has been both for the defense and the prosecution.
The gist of the article was how good lawyers and good lawyering are undone by stupid clients who can't keep their mouths shut.
Witness Trump and his mouth and his tweets. Q.E.D.
10
Trump is like a school yard bully who throws big stones at other students and then says "the stone just threw itself. Look ! I have small hands. How could I possibly throw such a large piece of rock"
"I give myself an A-Plus". No, Mr. Trump, maybe that is how you graded yourself in the past which means that an additional look at your diploma is now warranted. In a democracy, the electorate gives you a grade. Right now you are riding on a Z-minus. The only good thing about that rating is that there is plenty of room for improvement.
As for the rest, it is interesting how this man keeps digging a deeper hole for himself. Shows a lack of restraint and basic smartness.
"Michael does not represent me". Uh, ok. Wait until Mr. Cohen decides that he has nothing to do with you. That is when this story gets interesting. Until then we just chuckle at your nonsense.
7
Nothing but lies, delusions, and more lies. We have a defective president. Did someone keep the receipt?
13
Mr. Trump's denial of culpability in the Cohen matter is more than an empty claim of innocence because it effectively precludes his right to claim the Fifth Amendment. And while this may change at any time, the fact of the matter is that he has never claimed the Fifth and he has consistently denied criminal culpability.
Despite all Mueller's indictments, the Cohen matter, and the Comey matter Trump continues to claim innocence, forgoing his right to remain silent. That certainly suggests that none of the public accusations so far is of concern to him. Of course, claiming the Fifth would be extremely damaging. But it merely confesses the possibility of incrimination, not the certainty.
As a prosecutor I do not take lightly his decision not to claim the Fifth and consider it probative of the fact that nothing so far has been particularly damaging in Trump's eyes. Of course, he may be ignoring his attorneys. With Trump, you never know.
45
Your whole post presumes the president isn’t a petulant child and is innocent. Want to bet?
5
Gee, let's remind ourselves of your recent headline that Cohen might not be willing to take a bullet for Trump anymore. Now, it's abundantly clear that your writers got the names mixed up in that headline: Trump will not take one for Cohen. He is attempting to wash the grime from his hands while hoping against hope that his greasy fingerprints will not be found.
40
My favourite part, courtesy of Daniel Dale's live tweeting, was when he said he called in because it was Melania's birthday and then copped to not even buying her a present. Who does that?
48
In real life? Only Simpsons characters.
6
And acknowledges the Stormy payment on her birthday as well. That poor woman. There's not enough money in the world...
9
Anne - That "poor woman" knew what she was getting into and apparently there's enough money around for her to keep putting up with all this.
6
How long now until Trump's followers all adorn red clothes, buy him a Rolls-Royce and dance around madly as he rolls through Mar a lago?
32
Sorry, folks, I know we all want to believe that America is a democracy but it's a plutocracy. That's how it was created. Go check out what percent of white male property owners were allowed to vote in the first election. It's very low.
Donald Trump is a useful idiot for plutocrats. And he's doing a bang up job. It's the magician's trick -- don't look at what my left hand is doing, look at what my right hand is doing. At this point, it's not just that no one is looking at what the right hand is doing. At this point, no one remembers there even is a right hand.
Trump's a heckava useful idiot. The question now is, will his idiocy outweigh his usefulness?
Plutocrats give the peasants just enough to prevent a peasant revolution. Peasant revolutions are very disruptive to their lavish lifestyles. But if there's ever been a buildup to one, it's now.
When a national mythology begins to breakdown, it's tumultuous.
31
Actually, now it is a kakistocracy.
2
I'm noticing a hint of resignation in your response? Is that what they United States does to our fellow countrymen?
A bit like fencing in the Commons and the recent tax heist on the middle class and the working poor.
Hey, Chuck, say it louder and keep repeating it! Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said Mr. Trump’s comments were “embarrassing to America.”
“The president seems to live in an alternative reality,” Mr. Schumer said on the Senate floor. “He says things that are patently false and he thinks just by saying them they become true. The amount of 180-degree turns, name calling and blaming — you watch the president this morning and the way he acted, it is so unbecoming of a president and democracy.”
143
Solicitation of Prostitution of a PORN STAR HOOKER while your PLAYBOY BUNNY HOOKER is awaiting your return to the hotel room . . . while your WIFE & SON are awaiting your return from your business trip . . . is also unbecoming of a Republican President who campaigned on family values.
Its so nice to see that Evangelical Family Values have progressed to the present. Six-figure incomes available for all their daughters!
4
With friends like Trump, who needs enemies? Looks like the "bus" has just pulled up in front of Michael Cohen's world, with the motor running and Judas at the wheel. More rants from a delusional narcissist, the proverbial "tale(s) told by an idiot". Trump doesn't need a lawyer, he needs an exorcist - on retainer.
94
This was totally bizarre. It's unbelievable that we're living in a time when the President of the United States calls into a TV talk show and just rambles like an enraged, desperate brat for 30 minutes, slurring various people in the government and public service, calling people childish names, and just babbling nonsensically in general. The man is coming unglued. One assumes he does not listen to his own attorneys' advice. No wonder John Dowd flew the coop and Ty Cobb is loudly talking about the case on his cellphone in the middle of National Airport in DC. They want out of this kooky chicken coop!
750
But he did this every day to every major news source during the 2016 Campaign. Estimated $2 BILLION in free coverage. So this is simply entertainment, because the Republicans will continue to look the other way.
13
Even the sycophants on Fox and Friends looked a little freaked out....
13
It really is crazy, to the point that one of the hosts actually had to make an excuse to get him off the line, as if he was a senile relative. But I can't stop thinking about the moral void in the hearts of these three hosts. If you watch the video, you can see how uncomfortable they are, listening to the ramblings of this clearly delusional person. They know he's the president of the United States, and on some level they must know how wrong and dangerous this situation is, but they decide nonetheless to do their best to further empower him.
It depresses me to think about the extent to which some people will debase themselves for money and a little bit of fame.
7
Ha ha ha. Reverse psychology failure #2,675,434. Cohen's legal troubles involve Trump at every level. Berni Madoff is keeping a light on for you two love birds.
36
OK, if Trump barely had any dealings with Cohen, legs or business, why is he so intent upon reviewing the documents et al secured during the search warrant?
According to Trump today, there would not be any papers or tapes or whatever because he never did business with Cohen. So once again Donny Boy seems to be conflicted about the truth. No surprise there.
Trump's verbal vomit of this morning made a short change of pace from tweets but exhibited the same delusional world he lives in albeit one in which saving his behind is the primary motivator. Cohen has been spit out as just another coffee boy. It only took two weeks from close personal friend to hardly knew Ye!
41
"Mr. Cohen handled just “a tiny, tiny little fraction” of his legal work"
Well, people, in case you missed it, it's not the legal work they are after it's the illegal work.
163
Journalists from so-called "fake news" outlets (CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, etc.) should absolutely copy the Fox and Friends style: flatter him, keep him talking, lead him into deep dangerous waters by prompting him on touchy subjects, quote his detractors and bring them up often. If they can stomach that, he'll incriminate or contradict himself every single time. Loudly and belligerently.
37
Spot on !
For once F&F did our nation a great service.
9
Those "frank news" journalists might better take a page from President Macron. An actual real President.
PEM had Trump totally bamboozled with the kissing, hugging and snuggling up. It was a show of real and honest intentions of friendship and of hopeful cooperation between world leaders . PEM had it planned well before he came here this week. The story about Voltaire and Franklin was not a last minute inclusion. He absolutely knew that he could get Trump’s attention. I very much admire PEMs strategy. It was really lovely. It played to Trump's desperate neediness for love and pageantry.
It's definitely not F&F those earnest journalists need to model or emulate but the honorable President Macron. Murdoch is not a real kingmaker, he is a scandal rag headline pimp. Macron is good. Fox is bad.
5
There is no excuse for what the Times did in this articles: they buried the lede.
So you know, here it is: He said he had tried not to interfere in Justice Department matters, which in many past administrations have been protected from political interference. But he warned that “at some point I won’t.”
A sitting president vowing to interfere with the Department of Justice is news. Big news. Even in these times.
137
Oh, OK Mr. President, if you say you are innocent why then, by golly, you must be innocent!
Have anything you might want us to buy today? Hats? Steaks? Apartments? Despair?
Oh the last one is free, thanks Mr. President! You are such a decent upstanding fellow. History will certainly write you down as such.
15
"When another journalist asked that at the White House earlier in the week, Mr. Trump snapped, “Stupid question.”"
The response by the Press should have been "So we should take that as a "Yes", eh Mr President?"
22
Nothing ever involves him, until he a) eventually blurts out an admission, b) he hints at at admission because he's been off the headlines for 36 hours, or c) someone's suit risks exposure.
21
Is it any wonder why Trump settled so many of his legal disputes out of court or simply paid people to go away? If his relationship with Cohen is indicative of his past dealings, probably most attorneys representing him just threw up their hands and told Trump to just get out his checkbook as the simplest way of making a problem go away.
One day Trump tells reporters that if they have questions on the Stormy Daniels issue, they should ask Cohen. Now, he says Cohen's problems don't involve him. Yet Cohen has already admitted that other than Sean Hannity (who claims to have asked Cohen only for an opinion) and Elliott Broidy (who asked Cohen to pay off a Playboy playmate), he has no other clients besides Trump.
While Trump and Cohen may have successfully resolved many legal disputes in the past, they clearly haven't mastered the art of lying.
19
Truth will always 'out.'
What a complete psychopath. It is not news, I know, but I continue to be stunned. And repulsed.
61
Michael: do you really think he'll save a pardon for YOU? You're under the Trump bus now and it's backing up and running over you again. Flip now!
27
The SDNY was watching Fox and Friends this morning too, as evidenced in their latest court filing.
Donald has spent his entire life surrounding himself with dopes who are willing to do his bidding. Michael Cohen, on the verge of being disavowed, like the rest of the riffraff, is among them.
Donald apparently did not pay attention in social studies and does not evince any capacity for adult learning. He misunderstood the presidency as an emperor job. He is just beginning to discover that he isn’t Boy King.
Rudy won’t be able to save Donald from himself. Donald’s big mouth, lack of self control, and sheer stupidity are his Achilles heels. He has a long history of questionable and/or criminal behavior. This is all going to be thoroughly investigated by the SDNY. That is one formidable operation and if he has any firing neurons, he ought to be terrified.
And his famous “ hitting back 100 times harder” is going to be flailing at giants.
33
Dear Mr. Cohen:
That beep-beep-beeping sound you hear is the bus, backing over you.
21
As Will Rogers said "when in a hole stop digging." Trump just keeps digging deeper and deeper. We can only hope that his own words (and whatever Mueller discovers) will bury him.
23
Just in case you are reading this Michael D. Cohen, that sound you hear is the sound of the Trump bus as it runs you over and leaves you for dead. Just think about Trump's other, former, lawyer similarly named Cohn if you don't believe me.
Flip. Flip now. Flip big. Never look back.
37
What must we keep pretending not to know here? This man is his fixer. No more need be said.
Trump's nonstop lying is being normalized - with every tweet, every blurt, every stupid thing he says or lies about. He obeys no law and upends anything and everything for no other reason than he can.
And while all this is happening, his donors and party are gearing up to spend hundreds of millions to smear the opposition so that the idiots who voted for this will do it again in November.
America is a joke, and it's not funny at all.
45
If Trump is admitting his involvement with the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal" to FOX news, can you just imagine what Trump might say to Robert Mueller? No wonder Trump's attorneys don't want him to speak to the special counsel!
Based on his other comments, we should expect him to fire Sessions soon.
38
Can you imagine what Trump will say to Kim Jong-un?
8
I am shocked, shocked I say, to learn that Trump has distanced himself from Cohen. Apparently Trump has never heard of the adage "A liar must possess a good memory."
50
Cohen very well may have handled just “a tiny, tiny little fraction” of his legal work ... the more sleazy work. That makes it hard to imagine Cohen's problems aren't Trump's problems too.
12
And here we have a ranting profile of a person who is so obviously living within a great height of fear. I hope he keeps ranting - as the hole he is digging only gets deeper and deeper, the greater the fall.
23
I can't speak for others, but from the "if I had it my way...." department, guilt by association would be a felony.
6
Wow. The citizens of the alternate universe where Rubio, Clinton or even the Libertarian candidate won instead of Trump must laugh at us every day.
4
Trump's lawyers asked that they be able to review all of the seized Cohen documents first, in case they involved Trump. Hope the judge takes into account this Trump's statement saying they have no standing to do that.
24
If Cohen's legal troubles do not involve him, why are Trumps attorneys asking to see the information gathered at the so-called "raid"? Why are they in the courtroom in the SDNY making motions IF he is not involved. Me thinks thou doth protest to much........................ Can't wait for Rudy to put him in front of Mueller and let him ramble. Never happen until he is subpoenaed by the grand jury and even then will exert the 5th or Exec Priv. The House will then do NOTHING, until after 11/2018.
11
We are living through a nightmare, the likes of which we never envisioned seeing in a western democratic republic - let alone our own republic. And the worst of it is that the nightmare originates in this White Houuse - an abomination, which shames us all, which puts our very national security at risk, and threatens world stability and even the future of our planet itself.
We stand on a precipice, poised for disaster. And daily the White House refuses to act responsibly, instead leaning ever more over that very precipice.
I am old. But I care about future generations. I care about the vote, our free press, the environment, separation of powers, racial and religious harmony, a justice system free of executive meddling, where justice is blind to privilege, power or money. I care about the education of every young person and the health and safety of everyone - in schools, on the job, in public places, our national parks. Etc.
I mourn each day we must witness and live through the nightmare.
84
What a friend... Anyone who associates with Trump should note how he rewards loyalty...
9
The Don's consigliere, Mr. Cohen, is a loyal and trusted adviser. Although not family due to his religious background, Mr. Cohen would take a bullet for the Don and is therefore considered an honorary and trusted family member.
"This trivial legal matter does not involve the Don in any way, shape, or form" - an unsubstantiated quote from Mr. Cohen.
5
I'm struck by the comment “There is no collusion with me and Russia.” With the emphasis on the "me". And I'm sure that's true. Like any successful mafia Don, the Donald simply distanced himself from the act by having someone else do the dirty work.
I do wonder what strategy he's going to adopt once Cohen flips.
10
I heard pieces of the broadcast. Trump sounded intensely loud and hyper like he was medicated. Maybe his doctor has given him something to stay up! Loose lips sink ships!
11
His excitability and elevated volume is a measure of his fear and anger. He is getting cornered, and his absence of problem solving skills is now more demonstrated.
He has relied on minions to solve his problems since a kid. His parents showed him how to do this when a small kid, by sending him down the road to a military school after he struck a teacher. He then developed and honed his manipulative and bullying skills. That his fear and anger escalate, he poses more danger to all around him, our democracy, our rule of law, and the globe.
5
Sounds like Trump has ordered the bus, under which he'll toss Cohen, to begin rolling. Unbelievable.
My youngest brother sounds just like Trump: utterly disconnected from reality, always blaming everyone else for his own failures, endlessly touting is putative accomplishments, feeling like a victim of others' conspiracies, and defensive at all times. Not surprisingly, my brother is in prison. Wonder if Trump will wind up there as well?
20
I had a brother like that. He didn't make it either.
Typical Trump. Only lies are true, and loyalty is a one-way street.
His history since boyhood is full of nastiness; he learned early that cruelty pays (Roy Cohn, Joe McCarthy's amanuensis, was an early tutor).
He's taken advantage all his life, and since he has no ethical sense, he doesn't care as long as he profits.
"Evil, be thou my good" (Paradise Lost)
Facilis descensus Averno (the road to death is short, Virgil's Aeneid)
The story of Faust is instructive as well.
Moral: if you are utterly corrupt, you will until you degrade yourself to nothing. It's the short road to hell.
83
Last sentence, aargh: "you win until ... nothing" (not will)
1
"What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." (Not Shakespeare!)
4
Trump have no control over what he is saying, he would talk himself into prison if Mueller ever get a chance to question Trump!
The totally corrupt Trump have made the "swamp" far deeper than it have ever been! Cohen would not have been investigated at all if he were not the Presidents lawyer, so that investigation is actually ALL about his, Cohens, legal representation of Trump! Would the far right "evangelicals" have voted for Trump if they had known that Trump "was in bed with" a porn star while married? Would anyone have believed his lies about "draining the swamp" if they had known Trump payed a porn star to be silent, doing exactly what makes the swamp deeper? By admitting Cohen represented him, Trump, in the deal with Stormy Daniels, he admits that he, Trump, "was in bed with" her, Stormy Daniels, while he was married to Melania! This also makes it more believable that Putin is able to blackmail the President of USA, Trump, because Putin have video of Trump having "been" with Russian prostitutes! Trump is far worse than all the "Weinsteins"... in the world! Trump chose Melanias birthday to admit he have "been" with Stormy Daniels!
22
Trump's antics are, by now, well known to most of us, except those in his core base who continue to put their trust in this snake oil salesman. it is not Trump's antics and shenanigans that worry me as much as the gullible lemmings that blindly follow this pied piper.
83
Just keep talking, Mr. President. On national TV is preferred but your tweets are illuminating as well.
Because you can't do either without, at best, constantly contradicting yourself or, more commonly, making things up and lying all the time. Shouting is even better yet as a strategy. It clearly demonstrates your innocence.
Jackson today, Pruitt tomorrow, etc., etc. Outwitted by a porn star and a Playmate. You're on a roll!
A+ indeed. In delusion.
95
This man is suffering from delusions and paranoia. The kind of everybody-is-out-to-get-me variety. Sooner or later hopefully sooner someone will get him. It can’t happen soon enough.
53
He isn't suffering at all. It is we who are suffering - our country, our Constitution, our democracy, our environment, our children's education, our civil rights, our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He's having the time of his life, and knows exactly what he is doing - just like his party.
14
He isn’t suffering or delusional.. They are out to get him. The sooner the better.
1
Trump is clearly distressed that his lackey and co-conspirator Cohen continues to make matters worse for him, not better. One minute Trump knows nothing of paying $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, instructing reporters to ask his lawyer who, he claims, is not really his lawyer. Now Cohen is his occasional lawyer, when he deems it expedient. The "really, really smart" president who surrounds himself with "only the best people" has proven to be catastrophically ignorant (blatantly stupid is more like it), surrounded by a cohort of scurrilous mob-like goons who are unwittingly digging his proverbial grave. What a total disaster — all perpetrated by a classic narcissist who is doing his best to destroy accepted norms and besmirch the office he holds, albeit temporarily, it is hoped.
30
Don't forget his cabinet members who are systematically trying to destroy the agencies they "lead." I pray that Scott Pruitt gets what he deserves -- and I'm atheist!
13
And don't forget Betsy DeVos.
Wow. I hate to say it, but with this level of stupidity, what does it say about those who believe him, or think that somehow the debasement of competence he brings the WH benefits them.
110
And Trump knows this, how?
8
After trashing the FBI for 'breaking in' to Michael Cohen's office and home, he concedes now that Cohen is subject to criminal investigations. And finally, he admits that Cohen represented him in "this crazy Stormy Daniels deal."
I wish there were some nice way to say this, but there isn't: Donald Trump is a moron, a con man, and an utter disgrace to the office he holds.
158
When I listened live to Mr. Trump on Fox this morning (someone called me and alerted me to watch) I was listening to someone with a bipolar disorder in the throes of a manic phase. A man with his finger on the nuclear button needs to get his medications straightened out. But I worry about his personal White House physician being involved, as he, too, needs to get his medications straightened out. Woe are we.
68
He is not bipolar. He does not have a mental disorder. He has, most likely, a mixed personality disorder. Bigly difference.
He is always working a confidence game, as he intercepts Other People's Money (OPM), which he described in his Trump University telephone solicitation training manual. He is now showing the markers of desperation that come from being cornered and running out of protectors, of being exposed.
6
Say what you want about the policies of 43 and 44, we had 16 years of Presidents who were good family me and whose morals Americans could readily embrace and emulate.
We now have a promiscuous POTUS and constant talk of unprotected sex with porn stars and play girls. We had to watch the Billy Bush tapes and accusations by several women of sexual aggresion. What is worse is that there is little condemnation or embarrassment and his followers, including evangelists, accept this behavior. How low and how much longer does this nation have to stoop?
32
George W. Bush and his henchmen lied us into a devastating war. Please don't laud him or lump the Obama family in with his vile clan.
6
I'm still waiting for the investigation of how/why W's Iraq war was started. I'll bet you won't find lots of morality in that story.
Michael Cohen has lots of bus tire treads all over him after the president's dismissive and distancing comments about him. The president is easing himself away from his erstwhile friend and now passes him off as just another acquaintance. That's true loyalty. Now's the time for Cohen to show the president that he too can make great deals by coming clean with what he knows about the president's involvements with Russia, his collusion and/or treason and his sleazy relationships with strange women.
28
I see light, a flicker that tells me the end of Trump is near.
16
This guy should be moving to Holy land tomorrow with his family and start a new life. He don't have to answer any question to any federal prosecutors. Buy a one way ticket to Jerusalem and move.
2
They don’t want him, either.
2
Thank you Fox News! You guys are real smart!
33
How stupid can President Stupid be, he say's that Cohen's legal troubles do not involve him.
They raided Cohen's office to look at emails and files that directly involve him.
Every day he proves that he can go lower then the day before.
19
And we and the NYTimes should believe a compulsive liar? Why?
21
I had to hire attorneys for a rather mundane case. The first thing the attorneys told me was NOT to talk to anyone about the case, and that any future communications about the case would be through the law office.
I really didn't need to ask, "Why?"
33
---but you... (a) listened to your attorney, and then (b) followed the advice of your attorney. Unlike the brain of the Liar-in-Chief, the executive function of your frontal lobe is intact and effective. You also have sound judgement, insight, and are able to problem-solve.
1
When will this nightmare end? When I long for the days of George W., you know it's very, very bad.
107
Wondering what was redacted from the transcript of the phone call. For example, that sentence where Mr. Trump begins with, "Nobody has done what I've been able to do... ." I'd suggest that the next words were, "... and I did it despite the fact that I am intellectually disabled and mentally ill."
And later, after he tells us he could walk out quickly from a meeting with Mr. Kim -- during a trip that we've been told has been planned essentially for him to meet with Mr. Kim -- he warns, "It could be that the meeting doesn't even take place. Who knows?" It's more than likely that he'd then added, "I can never tell what I will do or say from one minute to the next."
The people who were responsible for siccing this guy on us have a lot to answer for.
30
They should have to wear the scarlet T for the rest of their lives, and be held accountable every day.
5
“ I am not involved, I have been told that I am not involved “ LOL really then why does he have 3 teams furiously trying to stop the Justice Department from sending them to a grey team,,, wow ,,, If I was Trump I would start packing.
26
Think of future generations (if there are any)
watching Trump rambling, ranting and
putting his golfing foot in his mouth occasionally.
Will these future versions of ourselves,
hopefully all with various shades of brown
skin,(white skin is recessive you know) will
the lovely blended brown people laugh their
heads off, or will they wonder why even with our
crude mental health capabilities, our
congress did not rise up in accord and
take this severely emotionally and mentally
damaged man out of office. I think we will
appear crude and cruel to them. And they
will wonder how we smart ones allowed racism
to flourish so long after the civil war.
And ponder why we called it civil war when
it was actually traitors attacking the USA.
And though I will not be here to see it, I hope
they cannot even understand how we let
the oligarchs buy up politicians who obeyed
them and never listened to their constituents.
in both parties. Ok there were a few democrats
who realized that it was a better bet to give
up the dark money and maybe those in the
future will honor them, they should, it is the
only way there is a fighting chance to have
future generations in my not at all humble
opinion,
12
That sounds like a wonderful future. I haven't daydreamed about the future in a long time. Thank you.
2
Don't watch Fox News, but from this account, looks like Dr. Ronny should be measuring trump for a straight jacket, not commending him for his "great genes".
20
perhaps measure him for an orange jumpsuit..it will go with his fake tan
4
The man that allegedly threatened Stormy, quite possibly threatened others.
The collaboration will send this guy to jail.
The large reward will make somebody who knows something, do the talking.
17
And let me follow up on the buried lede: not only did the president confirm Cohen's representation in the Stormy Daniels matter, but by implication he admits to the affair AND to knowledge of the payment. How do you spell: campaign-law violation?
58
I just watched the 30-minute interview of Trump with Fox and Friends on You Tube and it was more than disturbing. He was ranting non-stop about CNN, and liberal media, how he made NBC millions with The Apprentice and they aren't "nice" to him, ranting about Hillary Clinton.
It made me nauseous. He is a petty boor, and how he got elected as president will go down as one of most unbelievable political perfect storms in the history of the country.
129
I'm afraid America is populated with tens of millions of people just like him, and they think he is grand. That's our major problem.
9
I think we all know that just because Mr. Trump says something it doesn't mean it is true, too often, it is just ridiculously false. Either he knew about the payoffs and Cohen was representing him, or Cohen was lying and not representing Mr. Trump. In either case, it appears that over $100,000 in campaign contributions, which this was, went unreported. It is reasonable to ask how many other non discloser agreements are out there and who else might be in a position to black mail Mr. Trump. It also makes the story about Russian hookers seem much more feasible. If Mr. Trump is being or in a position to be, blackmailed by the Kremlin, we have a national security problem, worthy of a Congressional hearing.
297
We know that the $130,000 must have been a campaign contribution because we certainly know it wasn't Trump's money. He's too cheap to pay for anything out of his own pocket, including a birthday gift for his wife.
18
Statistically speaking, there's currently a 70 percent chance anything Trump says is dishonest. In legal matters, this figure goes up significantly. Unfortunately, I can't yet say by exactly how much. If we take the baseline though, the odds heavily favor a "Lyin' Trump" again. My money says his eyes are brown.
4
You'll have to wait til November for that hearing.
1. There is very scant rationale or evidence that the self-granted A+ rating is warranted. Perhaps he had some success at doctoring his own grammar school report card and got away with it. The past as prologue, as it were.
2. Narcissists typically conclude that the troubles they face are always the fault of inferior or scheming others. The president casts himself as victim, not bad-faith actor or perpetrator. Very passive-aggressive.
3. There has been zero conclusion that Mr. Cohen's business and legal practice did not mingle with or cross into Mr. Trump's legal or political interests. That's one key target of the raid on Cohen. To preserve a shred of credibility, the president should stop posturing as the judge and jury of his own status. The more he asserts he did nothing wrong, had nothing to do with it, that the crazy deals were devised by others, the more is revealed of the shoe and pant leg on the man behind the curtain.
4. Hearing Trump's rationale of distance and denial, Michael Cohen might best make preparations for getting thrown under the proverbial bus.
5. The Oval Office is not like Superman's Fortress of Solitude. As Trump is in error on 1 through 4, he should get it through his hair helmet that, at least in theory, he can wear handcuffs like any other perp. They will be made of unbreakable, self-made hypocrinite.
11
Mr. Trump complains that everyone is investigating him, not Hillary or Obama. Well, as they say, Trump and his circle is a target rich environment. You go where the pickings are ripe and numerous.
17
"Even the Fox hosts seemed concerned as the president railed at length about the “fake news” media. “I’m not your doctor, Mr. President, but I would recommend you watch less of them,” one of the hosts, Brian Kilmeade, told him."
Don't sell yourself short Brian. Trump's calls into Fox and Friends sound much more like a therapy session for a narcissist losing touch with reality than a president being interviewed.
You and the "Friends" may not be real doctors, but you're not real journalists either. Trump needs a safe space to ramble on about his innermost delusions. Carry on.
70
I've never watched "Fox & Friends," but from the name it sounds like a kids' show.
5
Romper Room, with padded walls.
7
Trump still doesn't get that giving Stormy Daniels $130,000 is a campaign contribution.
19
I get the impression from his comments that he thinks he's being accused of taking funds out of campaign coffers to pay Stormy.
This level of misunderstanding, in public, is pretty shocking.
9
OK table is set. Ms. Clifford's attorney is correct. If giving paying $130,000 is a "campaign contribution" it was not disclosed, and the President admits that Cohen was his attorney in this transaction. Neither the $130,000 payment to Clifford, or the $150,000 to the former playboy bunny was reported to the federal elections commission. If these are in-kind campaign contributions, the President committed a felony and we have a constitutional crisis that will end in impeachment-hopefully by a Republican congress for the sake of the country.
20
Michael Cohen - And this was the Man you were ready to a bullet for! You are not only left to dry but also $130,000. And by taking the Fifth you are actually incriminating yourself. The irony! Caesar, the Brutus.
21
President Trump seems to think that if it is said on television it must be true...TV being the arbiter of truth, FoxNews to be more specific. If Michael Cohen was expecting loyalty from his major client he could only be disheartened on listening to this attempt to hammer a wedge into their relationship. If Cohen hoped that taking 'The Fifth' would stitch a pardon onto his darkening future, that seam just unraveled.
16
Those sounds you hear are the heads of Trump's lawyers banging against a wall as they wonder how they're going to undo the damage their unhinged client is doing by commenting on the Michael Cohen case.
33
There's a difference between a witch hunt and a cleansing. The American ruling class (in its more powerful majority - not the Mercer's or the Koch's) has now decided on the later. The tax breaks were great but they've decided that you can't run the most powerful country in the world with incompetents like the Trump crowd.
Michael Cohen is a case in point. A couple of months ago he was threatening Stormy Daniels/Stephanie Clifford with a 20 million dollar lawsuit. He's now pleading the Fifth Amendment? The tables have turned so quickly that many people are presently suffering from wrenched necks.
How soon before Fox and Friends stops taking Donald's calls? Hopefully Trump won't get us into another war like W did in an effort to save himself. And Trump doesn't have an Alan Greenspan to goose the economy by lowering interest rates. We truly do live in perilous times.
21
Lon, great point about the threat of $20 million lawsuit. By now, one would think if the agreement between Ms Daniels and David Dennison had any teeth Mr Dennison's would have filed for breach of contract by now. Or maybe Mr Dennison was bluffing?
1
“He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me.”
Did Trump mean to apply the "crazy" adjective to the "deal," or was he using it as one of his derogatory labels for Daniels?
Like "Crooked Hillary," "Lyin' Ted Cruz," etc. Was he actually unveiling a "Crazy Stormy Daniels" label?
9
The comeuppance for this reality star pretending to be the president and destroying our country cannot come soon enough.
22
Still delusional after all these months or is it years? Our “president” - living in a Godfather movie of his own making.
So far, at least, there hasn’t been the gratuitous violence, but you never know what’s tied to what. The Russian involvement means all bets are off.
All shall be revealed. Watergate took over two years.
Patience grasshopper.
22
I don't believe it. Trump was very verbal on line and news about how wrong it is for the FBI to go into his friends records. When someone complains about it as much as Trump it is true. I hope the handcuffs get put on before he and the war monger GOP send any more bombs . Putin warned any more bombs anywhere will cause international chaos.
5
Cannot watch "Fox and Friends" without heaving my breakfast.
An interview with Trump and my head hurts all day.
Then the voices start with Trump's voice on "Great America" ---
How do Republicans live with themselves?
Did Trump say, "I don't need no stinkin' lawyers."?
15
Trump sounded very much like Nixon (delusional) in the final months of his presi presidency. Rather than roaming the white house talking to pictures on the walls, Trump is ranting and rambling on the phone with Fox and Friends and Hannit
15
Mr. Avenatti hardly needs to lay traps. President Trump digs his own, spreads them with quicksand, and then proceeds to jump into them feet first. One thing that Ms. Stormy and her attorney can rely upon is that their adversary's "restraint" will eventually disappear. The president cannot help himself by the simple act of shutting up.
Trump claims "that a federal criminal investigation was focused on Mr. Cohen’s business dealings and had nothing to do with his legal representation of the president." Trump has no idea of what what the "federal criminal investigation [is] focused on." But he'll find out.
24
We used to have presidents who strove to bring the nation to its greatest promises, and yes, many have fallen far short.
I remember there used to be presidential aspirations to lift our nation as a whole: "The New Freedom", "A Square Deal", "A New Deal", the "Great Society" and so on.
I also remember Truman's "The buck stops here" for personal accountability.
Sadly, those days are long gone.
We'll look back to after the election of 2016, and know what the Trump administration will be remembered by: "Pass the buck".
SAD!!!!
33
Since the '80s these game show titles could've passed for political slogans; "Let's Make a Deal," or "Deal, Or No Deal."
2
Two weeks ago he was referring media to Cohen as his personal attorney for questions about the payment to Stormy Daniels. So now he doesn't have anything to do with Cohen? One thing is being a liar and another if you lie so much you don't even know what your position was two weeks ago. I am tired of having to hear this incompetent liar moan and groan and lie everyday.
111
Ditto. Sadly-he’s a symptom. The problem are his deluded racist, misogynist followers and the plutocrats who have made this nightmare possible.
23
The POTUS has said he has done wrong if that is the case why doesn't he help to get things clarified? He could start by releasing his tax returns.
Also where is Donny Jr, Eric, Ivanka, Jared, Paul and Mitch? Donny Jr and Jared seemed to be at the center of the Russian involvement.
25
Some reprobate somewhere has lost his mind. Hard to imagine how a game show host became president of the United States.
29
The voters loved his ‘You’re fired!’ delivery.
2
"He was not asked if he would consider a pardon for Mr. Cohen. When another journalist asked that at the White House earlier in the week, Mr. Trump snapped, 'Stupid question.'"
I was always taught that there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.
29
Michael Cohen now joins the list with Mike Flynn, Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos who The Don had only "'a tiny, tiny little" contact or business with. What is missing here is not the quantity, but what that "tiny" business involved like potential illegal campaign contributions in the form of the $130,000 paid as "hush money" to Stephanie Clifford (aka Stormy Daniels) and the $150,000 to former mistress and Playmate, Karen McDougal. And, once again, the mantra of "No collusion, no, collusion" plays out. This time it's "I'm not involved, I'm not involved." Of course, Donald Trump "is presumed innocent until proven guilty." So, we'll just have to wait to see if Mr. Cohen will if he becomes "a caged bird, will sing."
152
That was quite the interview on FOX this morning. I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice the President seemed a bit more unhinged than usual.
51
Speaking as a conoisseur, I thought the presser with the Wounded Warriors Project was, in its own quieter way, even worse.
I also liked the fact that as MSNBC's people pointed out, FOX actually wrapped the President! Literally told him thanks, but hey, we're out of time!
One wonders if they had some senior producer get on the horn after being called by Hannity, and tell them to wrap it up--he's crazier than usual today.
13
That has to be what happened. No one voluntarily ends an interview with the POTUS, even this POSPUS.
3
Oh yeah this guy Cohen is Trumps attorney and paid out of his pocket money to keep a women that Trump had an affair with from publicly announcing the affair. So Cohens legal problems have nothing to do with him (Trump) is Trump on drugs or is he just nuts.
19
Trump gives hmself an A+? Talk about grade inflation.
24
Not completely sure of what the "swamp" is according to Pres. Trump. But, watching his circle of confidants I sure know how to define cesspool.
37
Hmm. Perhaps Melania's Joan Collins-esque white hat is a tip to Bobby Three Sticks that she has been reverse-gaslighting her husband into publicly incriminating himself. If so, Brava to her.
15
Macron’s head must be spinning. He’s got to be thinking “What has happened to America?”
Mr. Macron is not the only one who feels that way. Only thing is, Trump doesn’t think Americans are perfect as he tried to schmooze Macron with.
Just because Trump tried to be a cuddler with Macron does not mean he is a warm and fuzzy guy.....He loves lying, cheating, corrupting. And he’s too dumb to even pull that off, as with this Stormy/Cohen deal.
That is what has happened to America, Mr. Macron. Donald Trump is what happened to America.
And perhaps his latest stupidity will just get rid of him sooner than later. We can only hope.
18
Donald Trump is exposing the slime that bubbles beneath the surface. The people that put this conman in charge have always been there. They are driving this. Let that sink in.
5
Donald J Trump - Spokesman for the Vladimir Putin/Sean Hannity administration. 62,984,828 voters thought Trump was a good idea: BAD. After fifteen months of chaos, complete disregard for truth, unprecedented destruction of the norms and traditions that have long underpinned our constitutional democracy, between one third and forty percent of Americans, when polled, still think Trump is a good idea: REALLY BAD!
21
Apparently not now since Cohen has taken the 5th. Very convenient.
6
No smoke,no fire,nothing to see here you can take him at his word,and we know what his word is worth
9
People pushed under the bus usually are the last laughers. Ask Ann Curry. Let's see Cohen is a lawyer. He only has 2-3 clients. Yet, Trump has nothing to do with him. Ok, so Cohen's address is lawyer to Trump. This is so funny. Trump is saying "honest mom I didn't eat the last piece of that scrumptious chocolate cake."
9
Delusional.
Trump gives himself an A-plus.
Compare his 15-month self evaluation with the leading scholars of the day:
Democratic scholars rank him 44th (last place)
Independent scholars rank him 43rd (next to last)
Republican scholars rank him 40th of 44 presidents
Trump doesn't pass the Historian test.
Trump doesn't pass the eye test for the majority of Americans either.
Divisive
Poor executive skills
No credibility
Poor comportment
The list is endless!!
Trump offers nothing more than false hope for the majority of his base. He's a puppet for the Mercers/Koch brothers, etc.
The majority of Americans view him for what he is.
Trump is a major threat to the fundamental institutions and ideology that this country has nurtured and supported for over 242 years.
47
If Trump is 40th out of 45, who do the Republicans think is worse than Trump?
2
The bottom feeders as ranked by Republican historians: (Trump gives himself an A-plus, presidential political experts of all stripes grade him with a big red F)
41- Andrew Johnson-impeached by House (May happen to Trump if Ds win House and Senate)
42- Franklin Pierce- set stage for Civil War (Trump has started a Civil war of sorts between Ds and Rs)
43-William Henry Harrison- only served 31 days; died of pneumonia (Hopefully, Trump gets impeached and only served 2 years)
44- James Buchanan- failed to address slavery issue and secession of southern states leading to Civil War
Donald, your attorney, who is now being investigated for wire fraud and bank fraud, among other things, represented you in paying $130,000 in hush money to a stripper. You had sex with that stripper. Your name was on the contract documents.
YOU ARE INVOLVED.
All of your Manhattan real estate developer chutzpah won't change this fact.
31
It's obvious that Trump is quite concerned about the SDNY investigation based on his tweets, his discussion of Cohen not flipping, and his new attorneys trying to circumvent the taint process.
7
This reminds me of that moment in the show about the criminal sociopath who starts stalking the lake where he buried all his victims, and can't stop talking about with others, despite the fact they don't even need to say anything at all - It's almost like they want to be caught.
17
In the John Edward case, the Federal Election Commission determined that hush money cannot be regarded as a legitimate campaign expense even thought paying it increases a candidate chance of winning an election. Therefore, the hush money Cohen paid Stormy Daniels cannot constitute a campaign expense even though paying it helped Trump win the election. This is why Cohen paid Stormy out of his own pocket. Itr could no be paid out of campaign funds. Cohen probably considered it a business expense that he would be recovered by future billing.
5
Wrong again. They are following the money. And they will get him. People who spout the nonsense that you just did will pretend they never stood behind this fool. Too late. Social media has you on record.
7
Well, this is not the John Edwards case. The payment sure does look on its face like an unregistered campaign contribution.
5
They know the money came from Cohen's bank account, not the Trump campaign. This has never been a matter of dispute.
1
Donald, if the Cohen legal problems don't involve you , why are you making yourself available to review the files . ?
70
ABSOLUTELY!!!!
4
Trump is a piece of work, as my family would say. Trump reveals himself through his language,
"Mr. Cohen handled just 'a tiny, tiny little fraction' of his legal work, Mr. Trump said."
Trump's repetition of the word "tiny" is to his followers who all watch Fox News to get them feel that Trump has an insignificant relation to Cohen. But Cohen's payoff to Daniels is a campaign contribution. It turns out that it didn't matter. Even evangelicals were going to support Trump despite his adultery. Trump could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and his supporters would still vote for him. Even Trump was surprised at that. So Cohen wasted his money and business by supporting Trump in the Daniels imbroglio. It happens to everyone who is close to Trump.
Fox News was a significant factor in Trump's election, along with Cambridge Analytica. If there is to be a realignment to normalcy in our politics, Fox News has to be fixed. Republican leaders have to sit down with the Murdochs and set them straight. This will happen when the Republicans lose congress.
If Republicans lose congress, then the situation will be a Fox News with Trump against Democrats and Republicans. At that point Republicans will be pushed toward impeachment as they see an impending disaster in the 2020 election. But this means that Republicans will have to jettison some of those irrational Trump supporters, unless they can bring them around, too.
Trump's phone call into Fox reveals an unhinged president.
53
Trump said something completely else - so he never said that - but what did he say?
5
How much more of President Trump's self-described wonderfulness can our nation take without suffering permanent damage, starting with our Constitution and the integrity of its application to everything our USA and citizens do?
62
The Republicans will get back to you after the midterms.
11
My favorite part of the interview was the quizzical and puzzled looks by the sycophantic hosts of Fox & Friends when Trump started laying into the Justice Dept.
But Mr. President, it's your Justice Dept. and you're attacking Republicans was the comeback from his groupies on Fox in a stunning moment. Fox & Friends asking a serious question and everyone looking uncomfortable? That was new.
But what we all heard today was more ramblings from a delusional man facing serious legal jeopardy on several fronts. And he sounded more unhinged that ever today.
344
When even the three on the couch look concerned and nonplussed, it’s past time to worry. Let’s assemble a “coven” of Democrats to take this on. What a mess
16
"Let me tell you" is one of Trump's cues that a lie is coming. Of course saying that someone is lying on a half hour interview on Fox and Friends is being redundant, n'est-ce pas? But let's get to the serious issues shall we? Why isn't Michael Avenatti bringing popcorn to his TV interviews?
62
Hopefully, Avenatti will be able to question trump under oath.
The liar in chief will perjure himself for certain.
11
He usually makes the OK sign with his right hand while he is lying, too.
11
Ludicrous. Cohen only had three clients this year, one of them being the infamously litigious Trump. He paid off, swept away, bullied, and blackmailed anyone willing to rightly point out Trump's egregious behavior and moral depravity . . . and we're to believe, according to Trump, that his personal lawyer did it all by himself, with Trump just a happy benefactor, but not at all a player in the matter?
Boy oh boy. This con man song-and-dance is getting exhausting. You know what they say . . . when something goes wrong for you . . . the only person you have to blame . . . is your friends.
158
The two of them have been "thick as thieves" for years.
DJT has shown his willingness to throw Cohen under the bus. Now let's watch Cohen return the favor!
9
Trump just threw Cohen under the bus. If Cohen doesn't flip he's toast. He doesn't need an epiphany to see that now that Trump doesn't need him anymore, he won't back Cohen. And either Cohen's not the coldest beer in the fridge, or he's a masochist. It's like Cohen is about to jump off the Brooklyn bridge, and Trump is shouting to him to jump.
78
So, Cohen really was representing Trump on the Daniels matter, the complete opposite of what he stated on Air Force One a few weeks ago. To paraphrase Pink Floyd, it's just another lie on the pile.
72
Getting closer. Just a matter of time before Michael Cohen turns state's evidence against Trump.
27
I would pay good money to know what ol' Rudy Giuliani is thinking about this morning.
Michael Avennati has already publicly thanked Fox & Friends. I'm sure there were a few gasps and guffaws in the Mueller situation rooms as well.
126
Railing like a comedian on an all night cocaine binge, Trump screaming on the phone makes for great TV but does not bode well for the future of the Republic.
116
So far the most accurate reader of the tea leaves has been Ms. Clifford's lawyer,
Michael Avenotti, who rightly predicted Mr. Cohen's troubles including his pleading the 5th. But the sweetest prediction is the one many of us have been desperately hoping for: Trump will not finish out his term. Trump is in the middle of a legal minefield it seems; trying to navigate through it requires a mind firmly hinged, a mind Trump does not possess, as evidenced by this Fox "interview".
51
I listened to the unhinged liar on Fox and Friends this morning, and he shows how really dumb he is, by sounding like a guilty person who doesn't know when to shut up.
It is obvious any smart lawyer, first wouldn't have Donald Trump as a client, but second would not trust him with any prosecutor, because it's obvious he can't stop lying, it's like lying is part of Donald Trump's DNA and he can't help himself.
70
Trump says Cohen's legal troubles don't involve him? Well, there's your proof they do. Whatever Trump says believe the opposite.
38
The president is elected by the people of the United States based on what the media publish about the president!
So how is it that the president can use that same media to lie to those that deemed he was fit for office?
Any elected public official, found lying to the media, with regards to their actions, should face serious legal ramifications!
Elected officials should be sure of their facts, before attempting to influence public opinion.
11
I noticed that Trump said, "he [Cohen] did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going into this, which would have been a problem.”
However, to my understanding the issue is whether Cohen essentially made an in-kind contribution to the campaign, by paying the $130K to Stormy. If that payment is found to have constituted a campaign contribution, it was unlawful: the payment far exceeded the amount that an individual may legally donate, and was not disclosed. That is probably why Cohen has stated that Trump was not aware of the payment. It seems that Trump just essentially admitted that he was involved and/or knew about the $130K payment to Stormy, which is fairly damning.
- Dee, Esq.
53
This "interview" is among the most troubling of Mr. Trump's public statements. He evidently believes himself a lonely and noble hero, unjustly set upon by a relentless horde of evil enemies. A (very dark) Don Quixote.
It is a serious error to attribute all this to strategy or theater. There is strong reason to believe that the Trump is the victim of paranoid delusions. Who can listen to or read this rant and conclude that this man is fit to be our President?
122
I've begun wondering if, just like the real Vietnam, the so-called personal Vietnam is not exactly over.
4
"Who can listen to or read this rant and conclude that this man is fit to be our President?"
Congressional republicans.
1
"Trump Says Cohen’s Legal Troubles Do Not Involve Him"
Really, Mr. President? Then why the meltdown? You are the guiltiest-acting innocent person I have ever seen! Can't wait for this freak show to be over and for the circus to roll out of town.
406
Do I see a double decker Bus pulling out onto the Avenue ?
3
Trump is morphing into Captain Queeg before our very eyes.
"Ahh, but the strawberries that's... that's where I had them. They laughed at me and made jokes but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt and with... geometric logic... that a duplicate key to the wardroom icebox DID exist, and I'd have produced that key if they hadn't of pulled the Caine out of action. I, I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow officers..."
228
Wow, great analogy. I'd forgotten all about Captain Tr...I mean Captain Queeg.
15
Indeed, with a bit of Al Capone thrown in ... "I want Eliot Ness dead! I want his family dead!"
12
Perfect, TexasBee!
9
OK, with this statement, Trump has started pushing Cohen toward the bus. I predict by the end of the week, he will have completely shoved Cohen under said bus. I don't know the reason for Cohen's apparent devotion to Trump (does he have daddy issues?) but if he takes the bullet for this president, he will only have himself to blame.
223
he actually pushed him under last week, and now he backed it up and rolled over him AGAIN. Cohen is my "coffee boy". If that doesn't change Cohen's mind about flipping, I don't know what would. That is a very public divorce.
21
Possible reason for Cohen's "devotion": could Trump's Russian mafia "business" associates be threatening Cohen's family? Wouldn't surprise me. Or perhaps, there'a a bucket of gold buried in the Cayman islands for Cohen's family. This reality-tv show is not as fictional as you think.
14
He didn't just start throwing Cohen under the bus. That sound you hear is the bus backing up...
7
If anyone wonders why Trumps lawyers advise against him meeting Mr. Mueller, see the interview with Fox and Friends. I bet Mr. Trump did not plan to talk about Mr Cohen and Stormy Daniels, but this is the thing: He can not help himself. He just can not.
And he wants to show how great he is. Which is why he also wants to have the interview.
No wonder the man has had problems getting a competent lawyer. The life is hard enough as it is.
192
Exactly. And to make matters worse, it seems he genuinely thinks he does a spectacular job in these interviews. He doesn't seem to grasp how badly he wounds himself.
20
Spot on. The thing is: Even if his miserable performance would be placed in front of him on a gold platter, he wouldn't see it. Because people like him just DO NO MAKE MISTAKES. Ever.
I predict he is gone very soon. Joe at MSNBC.com said he was unhinged. I agree. It's clear for all who can count to ten. Where John Kelly is these days we can only speculate. But I am pretty sure he is not idle. And he can count to ten.
4
"Mr. Mueller's defenders say he recruited his team based on expertise and skill, not on partisan affiliations." He said/she said is really the best you can do? "Trump says there's a deep state witch hunt against him. His critics disagree." It's not a tennis match, for goodness's sake. Trump is charging Mueller with serious political corruption and major legal malpractice. There is not an iota of evidence to support the charge. Those are facts. Why not report them?
182
Wouldn’t it be delicious to hear the in-studio chatter during the commercial breaks? Captain Queeg at his most passionate.
45
Trump "not involved" in Cohen's businesses? I doubt that. How about Cohen "is" involved in Trump's businesses. Could Trump be that much removed from his own deals to think he and Cohen are not involved in business together?
22
Judging by this interview and this morning's news, Mr. Trump needs both a different doctor and a different KIND of doctor.
487
His straight-jacket body posture, now, as always, speaks volumes about his defensiveness. Good practice. Just remember when Mr. Trump, the Candidate, forcefully bleated that pleading the 5th was a "Mafia" tactic and was used only by the guilty.
248
That rigidity might also be a symptom.
6
45's so full of himself there's no room left for anything remotely substantive. I found it interesting that Pompeo's meeting with Kim lasted only an hour, which, of course, t rump turned into a "win."
21
And the process of hanging Cohen out to dry begins. Personal attorney for more than a decade turns out to be just "coffee boy," is no doubt next. It is going to be a rude awaking for Mr. Trump when it becomes clear that his personal "magnetism" or whatever it was that has brought so many people into his orbit of worship over the years isn't going to mean a hill of beans to them when their freedom is on the line. Et tu, Michael?
135
lol Remind me again how many clients Michael Cohen has? With and without Sean Hannity if you can.
106
Trump, as evidenced by this Fox interview, is getting increasingly delusional, probably resulting from the multitude of stressors that he is daily facing in his self-created chaotic and unraveling presidency. The "concern" expressed during the interview by his Fox host was most revealing. Is anyone in Trump's inner circle closely monitoring this mental slippage? I shutter at the prospect of his upcoming Summit with Kim Jung Un.
147
“Trump Says Cohen’s Legal Troubles Do Not Involve Him”...
It’s confirmed then, Cohen’s legal troubles do involve trump.....
263
And I bet all of Trump's supporters will switch from "witch hunt" to this new line generously provided by their dear leader.
19
“He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me.”
You can always count on Trump to implicate himself. Like in his Lester Holt interview when he cited "this Russia thing" as a reason for firing FBI Director Comey.
I wonder how these statements would be treated in court proceedings though. So much of what Trump says is incomprehensible, people just chalk these things up to his tendency to ramble and make incoherent statements. What these are though are flashes of truth from someone who has weaved a web of lies that is beyond their intellectual capability to manage.
645
It would be fascinating to hear Trump’s lawyers debate whether they could get his admissions excluded on the basis that they are incoherent.
33
It's been reported elsewhere that the court filing has already been amended to use information given in this interview.
14
And another one down, and another one down.
Another one 'neath the bus.
62
Could members of law enforcement please do their job and bust these types of people for their crimes to prevent them from running for office in the future? If they’re allowed to get away with it, what’s to stop them from trying to rip off the biggest piggy bank of all, the United States Treasury?
None of this horror would’ve ever happened if they busted Trump for money laundering like they should’ve years ago.
434
Exactly. NY law enforcement and feds knew. Just didn’t have political will to pursue.
9
TRYING to rip off US taxpayers? After only 15 months in office, Trump, his family, his staff, and anyone tied to his administration have already ripped us off to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
They have succeeded in making this great nation a laughing stock to the entire world.
They have inserted hundreds of ignorant, greedy, lying, selfish, inexperienced and inept people into countless judgeships and administrative agencies.
They have sullied the reputation of the strongest nation in the world, with the explicit support and complicity of the Republican Congress, faster than murderous fascists took over Europe 80-90 years ago.
THIS is what America has descended to? This disgusting, scurrilous, conniving cabal of sex perverts, greed monsters, and racists? A flaccid, impotent Congress? Obscenely profitable corporations raking in ever bigger bonuses and golden parachutes as they shower politicians with donations?
America, now deemed 45th in "freedom" among 180 nations in the world?
A "leader" who is crazed with jealousy of his black predecessor, and who is determined to take America ever further into the muck of his reeking swamp?
THIS is the America that its voters put in place?
24
This was the moment Trump tried to throw Cohen under the bus...Is Cohen going to accept his fate, or flip?
34
For a supposedly "tough" guy, Trump seems remarkably thin-skinned, ever the victim, treated so unfairly. Where I grew up we had a word for this type of whiner, and its something Trump brags he gets to grab.
226
I know. This storied "counterpuncher" couldn't knock a stuffed animal off his own high chair.
30
Trump and most Republicans spend half of their time complaining about how they are victimized and the other half calling actual victims, "snowflake."
Trump is a lying orange "snowflake."
1
Trump could strip naked and dance on the White House lawn with porn stars and his hypocritical base would just politely look away and pretend it didn't happen. He spends most of his time bloviating and playing golf and tweeting and they look away. Sadly, even his insane ranting this morning won't dissuade his base.
572
David Graham’s Post in the Atlantic is priceless. The Fox hosts were urgently shutting Trump down, saying they expected the President had a million things to do. Graham noted that there was one event listed on his public schedule for today.
57
Evangelicals would “look the other way” and say “everyone has their flaws”
What a joke
40
He could even prove in public what he's often said, "Ivanka is hot!" The "christians" in his base would say nothing about this case of incestuous thought--or action.
3
An early morning rant from Trump or to quote Bob Dylan - "Idiot Wind." Maybe Trump should take these talking heads' advice and turn the television off.
22
If he did that, he wouldn't know what he's supposed to talk/tweet about, and stamp his feet and hold his breath until he turns blue - oops I mean orange.
15
Every day, Trump draws closer a mental breakdown. His rambling, excuse-ridden and oft-repeated diatribe of persecution and self-aggrandizement reveals the extent of his denial that his presidency is near collapse.
“I’m not involved, and I’ve been told I’m not involved.”
Trump's inadvertently revealing denial may become as memorable as Nixon's, "I am not a crook."
208
Presidential candidate John Edwards was indicted for using campaign funds to pay hush money to his mistress. The Federal Election Commission determined that hush money was a “personal expense” and that campaign funds cannot be used for personal expenses even it if improves a candidate’s chances of winning an election. If Trump has used campaign money, it would have been a Federal Election Campaign Act violation. This is why Cohen paid Stormy hush money out of his own pocket. Cohen probably hoped to conceal Trump’s involvement by paying out of his own pocket. Why would he do this? Because he earns his living by representing Trump. He probably considered it a business expense. Non-disclosures agreements are legal. The issue in the Stormy Daniel case is whether the non-disclosure agreement is valid. It is a civil case, not a criminal case.
103
Didn't Mr. Cohen complain that then-president elect Trump had yet to pay him back?
My memory may be confused with all the drama.
10
Scuse me, but there are contribution limits and disclosure requirements. The question is whether this is a campaign law violation; however, Cohen is also in trouble over wire fraud and money laundering.
All three are Federal felonies, which is why he got raided.
17
There is a civil case involving Stormy Daniels. There is also potential for a criminal case arising out of the agreement. It is a mistake to think the two matters are not tightly intertwined. We're way past the stage of trying to determine motives for bad behavior. We've already reached the stage where the guilty have to start paying the piper for their misdeeds. We could start a national debt style clock to track the legal bills. It's a safe bet we're already way past $130K.
18
Either Donald Trump is the Forrest Gump of this era, accidentally coming into contact with lawyers, politicians and businessmen with ties to money laundering, Russians agents, Porn Stars and Playboy Playmates or he is a treacherous, amoral, ethically compromised individual better suited for jail stripes than the Oval Office. Your pick.
610
No, how about deporting the entire Trump Crime Family, and its affiliates, to Russia following a finding that he was paid by Putin to create chaos in the world order for the benefit of Russia.
People like Trump have traditionally either been shot, poisoned, or sent to the Gulag in Russia when regimes change...and often when they don't.
8
I vote for the latter!
6
My vote's for the latter.
6
Reading this shows how ludicrous the Times Reader Survey "A Reader Project on Opinion Journalism" currently in Op-Ed is. It is not the job of the press to massage the news into a more palatable form to suit consumers. It is the job of the press to report on events as accurately as it can.
19
I guess you could call this Trump's "State of Delusion" speech. The most powerful man in the world, holder of what Teddy Roosevelt called "the bully pulpit" has to call in to a television talk show to get his message across? And then spends however long in a stream of consciousness discourse on a whole lot of topics that I am quite sure had his lawyers in fits. Mad world!
374
Pretty sure he was trying to distract from the Pruitt hearings, in service to the Mercers and Kochs.
2
Wait, you buried the lede. The president specifically stated that he is represented by Cohen in the Stormy Daniels matter, which precisely contradicts earlier statements. So, the headline should be: "President admits lying about legal representation in porn star affair."
1145
Stunning that the NYT thinks the lede is that Trump claims Cohen’s legal troubles don’t involve him (especially when the article immediately goes on to detail how Trump is admitting he IS involved in Cohen’s legal troubles with Stormy). Another NYT attempt to placate Trump?
7
...on Melania's birthday.
10
Trump does not know when to shut up. Ms. Daniels lawyer was right when he had predicted that Trump eventually will admit directly or indirectly his association with Ms. Daniels. It is so refreshing to see Trump talk like a drunk sailor!
662
Now that his happy-pill doctor is otherwise engaged, Trump is more unhinged than ever.
51
Good point. Just a week ago Trump said he didn't know anything about the Stormy Daniels payoff and that it was Fake News. Once again, Trump lied.
64
The judge just appointed a special master to handle the materials seized from Trump's lawyer, Cohen.
5
So Fox and Friends is Trump's idea of a press conference -- with only friendlies asking questions. This guy's got nothing to do with his time but golfing, twittering and Foxing.
478
He is rich, darling. That's what they do. Well, not all of them call in to Fox.
4
“He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me.”
What Stormy Daniels deal would that be, Mr President?
819
James Comey is got it right. It's the Trump crime family with DJT as thr heas crimimal.
193