The President is not "back tracking." Go back and watch the original video of George Stephanopoulos' interview. The very next sentence after Trump said sure he would look at opposition research given up by another country, the very next sentence, he says he'd turn it over to the FBI. Geez...and you wonder why people are disgusted with the media.
3
@Joe No, what he said was the he MIGHT do both. After saying the FBI Director was wrong; and that no one would call the FBI because life doesn’t work that way; and that everybody does it (accepts dirt from foreign sources). Clearly operating with honesty, as he Himself said. Geez.
25
Did you also see the part of the same interview where he said “no one calls the FBI in real life?” He went on to say that his own head of the FBI is wrong for saying he should report it.
18
This re-working of his answer still doesn't satisfy because he said he would examine/listen to it first and make some sort of determination whether HE thought it was worthy of being reported. That left open the possibility or probability that his moral sensibility (which is non-existent) is what he would rely on before he would make the decision to report it.
384
@zighi
So, you were going to vote for him in 2020 and now not so sure?
1
@zighi
Not a surprise. Throughout all his private life, trump had acted with no morals, scruples or any measure of rudimentary civil discourse. Let alone his complete disregard of law & order.
In all cases, he had high-paid bulldogs like Michale Cohen & others, who would "fix" things for him.
Now in public life - he thinks he is above others where Law & the constitution do not apply to him. He can lie in public, or say & do anything he wants, with expectation someone else will "fix" thing for him with blatant lies or take the blame for him. Be it the GOP leaders in Congress, or his private lawyers like that Once-upon-a-time Rudy Guiliani who seems to have lost his marbles defending trump with such ferocity.
32
@Alice's Restaurant
He told you he could shot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose YOU as a supporter.
7
I saw the clip. He, once again, gave himself a way out. He said he would contact the FBI OR THE AG. Since the AG works for him and not the country, it's obvious what he would do and what Barr would do in turn.
There was no backtracking, just a change in strategy to flout the law.
1033
Question, though: If its a foreign agent/agency/person/government involved, why wouldn't he also inform the CIA, and maybe NSA?
15
@If it feels wrong, it probably is
He’s just riffing. He doesn’t prepare or study or read. He doesn’t understand anything about how government works.
His whole life has been snake and mirrors.
82
@If it feels wrong, it probably is
No, what he said was he might contact the FBI and listen to what the foreign agent had to say.
Big difference.
7
One of the many problems with Trump is that the GOP accepted to hire a "marketeer" instead of a politician, in other words someone who has no clue about what's legal and what isn't, and as he doesn't read, he even ignores how America's greatness is intrinsically linked to politicians respecting its institutions, and of course laws.
What makes it even worse is that during his entire life already, he's known as someone who has no clear moral compass, when it comes to respecting the law, and who instead believes that all people are bad, everyone constantly breaks the law, and if you don't you're a fool, so life is about acquiring as much financial wealth as possible, through any means possible, including not attaching any real importance to the law.
And why do so many GOP voters support him, even after it became clear that he didn't get ANY deal done, during the two years that his own party controlled DC (no wall, no comprehensive immigration, no repeal and replace Obamacare, no deficit cuts, no annual 4% GDP, no Iran deal, no South Korea deal, no Israeli-Palestinian deal, etc.)?
Because Fox News and GOP politicians have been cultivating this kind of very dark, cynical (and demonstrably false) worldview for two decades now.
So they support Trump most of all because he so perfectly adopts that worldview, in his rhetoric.
2
Nothing this man says can be trusted. That's a sad thing to have to say about the President of the United States.
4
What he and his supporters seem to forget is actually embedded in his own words:
“Well, if I don’t listen, you’re not going to know,” he said.
That is exactly the reason why you are to report the incident to the law enforcement agencies because:
1. It is against the law to accept such information
2. Once you look, listen, or know you cannot unlook, unlisten, or unknow
3. You are not to judge whether it is good or bad information, whatever that may mean
Having a clueless president is terrible; having a clueless one who is also devoid of morals and ethics rubs salt to the wound.
3
Just for context, let’s all remember that Trump made his comment about accepting foreign dirt after he’d already won an election by doing exactly that. Why believe he’d suddenly go legit when blatant criminality has gotten him this far?
5
Unfortunately for all Americans, Trump’s 10K lies to the American public since he took the oath of office (his first lie) affirm that anything he says to “walk back” a previous statement must be considered still another lie.
2
I think most of us are aware that whatever the President first says on a subject is his true feelings. When he is shown that his true feeling on a subject made him look bad only then does he back pedal and he always does it badly to those that aren’t his lemmings.
3
It is frightening to realize that the most powerful man on the planet does not know right from wrong.
5
Here are things DJT is telling us over and over if we will just pay attention:
"I didn't say what you think I said and if you think I said it, you are wrong."
"Whatever I say at the moment is what I actually believe until I tell you I don't believe that any more."
"If my campaign doesn't listen to what some other nation, like, say Iceland, has to tell my campaign, how will I know if it needs to be reported to someone like the FBI or someone like the attorney general or someone?"
"You don't go running to the FBI with everything that comes through your door. That's not how the world works."
"Presidents have no more responsibility to law enforcement than the people who are paid to walk dogs on 5th Avenue. Come on'. Give me and those dog walkers a break."
"They say I am in charge of the justice department and the FBI, they say I am the ultimate boss but they won't let me fire people who irritate me. How's that being in charge?"
"Look, here's how I operate. I say anything that pops into my head and the news media has to report it. They are dummies with cameras and recorders. My supporters cheer because they think I am being tough, straight like a New York real estate guy should be. Then, I go on Fox and Friends and straighten out the mess and everyone is happy."
"If I say anything you don't like, who cares? It just means you aren't smart enough to know I will be saying the opposite tomorrow. You gotta keep 'em guessing."
3
NYTimes, you are doing a great job of reporting the utter confusion that DT creates in these interviews by reporting accordingly. The lack of conclusion in this article is startling and the dialogue makes no sense.
There has never been a president that spoke more often before he gave thought and then turned around and either lied about it as having never said it, or he just changed his mind. His name is Trump, but we must now accept a new nick name:
Backtrack Trump. Has a nice ring to it.
2
Trump’s first reaction to the interview shows the mindset he possessed when he became aware the Russians were meddling on his behalf in 2016.
“They have information. I think I'd take it”
Which is exactly what Trump did with Political dirt provided by the Russians. We see Trump rationalize his actions in 2016.
“ Russia if you’re listening” immediately followed by Russians hacking of the Clinton campaign and the DNC, it was no coincidence.
2
Why should I believe that? He just invited foreign entities to get dirt about his opponent and probably at least China and Russia already have files on each of the 20 Democratic runners.
I think his lawyers advised him to say he would call the FBI because otherwise, it would be a crime. This points to intent about the Russia affair of 2016. The President shows a pattern of criminal behavior and, gets away with it. Each time.
2
Trump’s words mean nothing, actions are what to be seen.
Remember -
Trump's bottom line is what's in it for Trump.
There isn't any concern of right or wrong, legal or illegal, moral or immoral. Trump doesn't care about the Constitution - his name isn't in it - or our laws, because Trump didn't make them.
Will it make Trump look good?
Will it put money in Trump's pocket?
Will it make Trump feel like a success?
Will Fox News compliment him for it?
Those are the concerns Trump considers.
Trump is always his main goal.
Not America.
Trump.
Vote Democratic in 2020.
America and the world will thank you.
1
If someone had videos of Biden nudging a golf ball from behind a rock with his foot to improve his lie, it would surely be a great feed for a political commercial. The National Enquirer would pay thousands and publish it without question. If NBC obtained a video of Trump doing the same thing, it would be televised every 15 minutes for a week or more. Does anyone believe either Media Outlet would call the FBI to verify the source. Would it matter if either candidate cheated in golf who recorded the foul. Should the FBI used to protect elections from golf “lies”?
Donald believes that there is no situation that he can't lie his way out of. He's a relentless lying machine. By the time a person reacts to the first one, he's already told several more. What he lacks in quality, he makes up for with quantity. His audience may be overwhelmed by it all, but for him, it's just the way he lives. It's becoming painfully obvious that it's all a cover for what lies underneath, which is nothing of substance. He's the ultimate empty suit with a gift for demagoguery and that's about it.
1
Enough! I would like to say that he is either insane or has dementia but I think that this is too kind. He is behaving like a spoiled, rich brat who has gotten away with breaking the law all of his life. Get him out of there before he does more damage to our democracy!
The impeachment process needs to start now. Mueller et al. must appear live on national television to educate those who will never read the Special Counsel’s report. Congress can’t allow them to testify behind closed doors because the transcripts of their testimony won’t be read either. If they refuse to testify publicly, put them in jail.
As I stated above he has been breaking laws for years and I keep wondering why this man wasn’t investigated years before he decided to run for president. But I have a feeling that if he weren’t a rich white guy he would have been in jail a long time ago.
2
Trump is a traitor, not in the pejorative sense, think about it, he is actually a person that has committed treason. It is no different than having Benedict Arnold in the White House. This guy needed money, could not get it from legitimate sources because of his several bankruptcies, so hooked up with the Russians to launder their rubles for a percentage. That's not treason, its just felonious. The treason came later when he ran for President and because of his new position his laundering fees went sky high, and in return he is helping Russia become great again by destroying the post WWII world order established by the West.
2
The moment Trump said "I'd take it", Russia and other despots took notice. Putin will be helping 45 once again. This administration welcomes the cyberwar influence, as the do nothing GOP believe it is THE way to victory. Our democracy is cracking under the weight of duress. This is very clear. Hopefully we will all remember our duty and get out the vote in 2020.
15
No real change here. All Trump is saying now is that "HE" will decide if the contact needs to be reported. That's not the way the Law works.
9
The man needs to go; and so, does Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, for blocking a bill with the motive to protect Trump from such illegal activity.
17
There's no need to wonder what he would do since we've already seen what he did do. As to his claims, do they really matter any more?
8
I have come to realize his words have no meaning. I don't see how a man can govern a country--or a home, when there is no difference between truth and lies?
13
A couple of days ago, we watched Trump proclaim on national television that he would accept from a foreign government negative information on an opponent He used the absurd and benign example of Norway, but he certainly didn't exclude governments who have demonstrated open hostility to our nation, such as Russia. The wording of the law says that during an election to even accept anything of value from a foreign government, including information of potential value, is illegal. He openly admitted to breaking the law, and said he saw nothing wrong with it. He falsely claimed that everyone does it. What he always does is present two versions of reality, one for his gullible audience of followers and one for the more informed public who can see through his games. As a result, many Trump followers will proclaim with conviction that Putin's interference in our election, and our president's grateful acceptance of it, was no big deal. They see Trump as simultaneously innocent and savvy enough to play a corrupt system better than everyone else.
Democrats and other intelligent people are clinging tenaciously to the conviction that we still live in a society governed by law. Likewise, we embrace our power to elect courageous representatives to stand up for our democracy with intelligence, compassion and conviction. We also retain freedom of the press to help at least some of us remain grounded in truth. Our system isn't perfect, but we are extremely fortunate to have it.
3
Yeah, sure he'd reject it. He reminds me of a line in a great Bob Dylan parody I heard: "I don't know what I mean, but a really mean it."
5
At this point, nothing Trump says can be taken as the truth. He has gone back and forth on some many things that he has said and done, that he no longer can be trusted at his word or actions. It is no small wonder that Europe, and NATO, are no believing the possibility that Iran attacked oil tankers this week. Besides so called US intelligence was wrong about Iraq, in 2002, the US already has a credibility problem. Europe paid for it by a flood of immigrants from the Arab Spring and the rise of far right, nationalist governments.
Chances are excellent that not only did Russia help Trump win, in 2016, that he is still getting help from them or other foreign entities. Hence, his side comments about information he has on Biden.
The worse part about this is that the GOP, the GOP caucus, his cabinet, and his staff have assigned full loyalty to Trump. Those who falter, are fired and discredited. He, and his staff, have manipulated the Justice Department to protect him. effectively eli9minating any investigative authority, other than the House of Representatives. And, his Commerce Secretary is working on that with the 2020 census, to fulfill the GOP dream of a one party state.
The use of "absolutely" in the headline is appropriate. Why? Trump thinks he has absolute power. This brings to mind the adage "absolute power corrupts absolutely".
7
Conspicuously, he still does not exhibit any awareness that it is ILLEGAL not to report such foreign activity. And if he really believes what he now says, why didn't he report the Russian actions in 2016?
9
Just another day of "As The Stomach Turns" starring the nefarious DJT and the equally ignorant, obnoxious hosts of "Fox And Friends" et al - exceptions are made for Chris Wallace, and his fellow news reporters. Not the riff-raff.
17
Flip-the flip-flopper!
9
"Trump says [fill in the blank"
ANYTHING that spouts if out his mouth is a lie!
18
He does not have the mental acuity and presence of mind to answer questions by real journalists. He should stick with fox news where he will never be challenged and where his criminal enterprise will be touted as "making America great again" for the consumption of feeble-minded people who are too dense to realize big money is using them as human shield.
23
Yesterday afternoon, National Public Radio played back the exact words of Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States of America, regarding this issue. He said that he would report receiving the information to authorities, only after he had read it. Seems reasonable to me.
After all, Pelosi said on nationalized TV in 2009, that the very lengthy Affordable Healthcare Act had to be passed before it could be read, which had the time made absolutely no sense at all. but since Trump's statement and Pelosi's follow similar logic both are acceptable.
At any rate, I support the President; I support Trump. I have supported him since the day he announced his candidacy. He has triumphed and will continue to triumph through 2005 when unfortunately will have to leave the office. Thank you.
4
@Southern Boy 2005? Is he going to travel back in time and replace GW Bush?
Trump's statement does not follow similar logic. He proclaimed he was going to break the law. Rep. Pelosi did not. There's no law about Congresspeople reading what they vote on.
Also, nationalized TV means the government owns it. Did she say this on PBS or do you mean national TV?
1
It may seem reasonable to you, but "seems reasonable" is the wrong test. Trump and his supporters need to get a grasp on the black-letter law fact that it is ILLEGAL not to report such foreign activity.
2
Is there anyone but djt's diehard supporters who believes anything djt says about anything?
22
Trump has lied since day one of his presidency over 9,000 times. I don’t believe him he colluded with Russia twice once asking Russia to find the 30;000 e mails then the Trump tower meeting. You are out of touch with reality if you think he won’t ask them again.
14
Actually, we all heard him ask for help again in 2020 on ABC during an interview. He seems to think that what he says during interviews is not admissible in court. I can't wait for the day he is proven wrong.
3
A day late and a dollar short, again and again ......
5
Who will you believe? Trump Tuesday or Trump Friday?
12
I wish he were only the king of phonies, an entertainment boob, only affecting his own little world.
11
Is there anyone but djt's ardent supporters who believes anything djt says about anything?
4
One of those statements is a lie. Which one do you believe?
6
Trump is unfit to be in any elected office and should be impeached and then voted out.
19
Why is any of this news? Trump already did seek, accept, and benefit from foreign election aid without reporting it. It was news when he finally stated on camera that he was fine with doing so again. But, giving this demonstrably false denial front page coverage just rewards the dishonesty.
18
such a liar and con man yet people so desperate for their fears that they give him a pass and continue to support him.
11
The apprentice President turns another blind eye to justice and rule of law. No matter. His loyal base does not care. And meanwhile, he rakes in more money monthly from his DC hotel than 10x the revenue from any TV Apprentice season.
Oh the humanity! Lol.
9
What an utter embarrassment. For us as Americans and particularly anyone who has ever or still supports him.
15
And we are supposed to believe a man whose utterances are not worth the device on which they are tweeted?
6
He says now he would absolutely report. Flip flop.
Alternative facts. Alternative laws. Alternative wives. Alternative mistresses. Alternative legal staff. Alternative dictators. How about an alternative president? You have no alternative.
14
It's with a heavy and weary heart, bordering on despair that I open the paper each day and read about our elected "leader". Will one of those safeguards we learned about in civics class - court, congress, impeachment - ever work? Will that most basic of lessons we were taught - "first they came for ___, and I did nothing" - ever move us to do something?
15
But he's a liar. Why parse what he said about this particular thing?
8
Credibility issue is at an all time high. If he just skipped these strange extremist behavior statements he may just get popular.
3
Why all the fuss, its only about law and order? Why should we worry about a president that works to keep the law at arms length from him and his businesses? Come on you guys in the hinterland, it isn't about your feeling unloved by the so-called elite, it is about an incompetent, liar who feels above the law. Give him up and return to civil political discussion before we go down and China takes over. T isn't worth it.
14
Mr. Trump called that a “fascist statement,” citing a supporter. “When Nancy Pelosi makes a statement like that, she ought to be ashamed of herself,” he said. “It’s a disgrace.”
Unironically sputtered by the person who ought to be ashamed of a lot of what he’s said and done.
He actually thanked Sen. Blackburn of Tennessee for blocking a bill that would’ve required disclosure of foreign interference to the FBI. Just farcical.
19
Apart from worrying about the damage the President is doing to the country, it is also fascinating to watch a really pathological liar perform in full view of the public. Trump makes an absorbing case study, providing so many telling moments. One came in his interview with George Stephanopolous when he realizes that the interviewer is not going to stop reminding him that he did not in fact answer any questions posed by the Special Counsel about obstruction. Trump had to resort to saying something to the effect of "you're such a wiseguy, George" as if somehow the question was impertinent. Perhaps the prison Trump ends up in will provide the psychological help he so plainly needs.
16
I'll say it again. DJT is a worse president than I ever imagined.
17
He didn’t ‘appear’ to backtrack. He backtracked.
14
He said he might report it to Barr, fat lot of help that will be. Barr would redact the incident “we do not comment or even admit the existence of anything that might make my client feel insecure”
11
When Donald Trump first tan for office hater were like 3,000 lawsuits he was involved in. CSpan should interview every one of those “partners” and document 24/7 the kind of business man Trump really is. The story will be the same over and over
He made a deal
He signed a contract
He paid half
Then he complained, filed a lawsuit and negotiated for half or less.
Show us, teach us
8
Cheatin’ Don will cheat again - like he did on his wives, his taxes, his golf scores, and his campaign. What’s past is prologue...
17
Of course he would report “ to the FBI, or (his buddy) the attorney general, if he thought there was something wrong (which he obviously doesn’t)”
5
Oh yeah... I know you heard him say yesterday that he would "think" about reporting the contact if he "thought" it was bad. Come on.... Trump would take anyone's lies to attack his opponents and would deny he ever heard of the Russians bringing the dirt.
7
Nope, sorry, you don't get an infinite number of "do-overs". Your first answer revealed your true instincts -- base and despicable.
We can see through you.
And you should probably limit the comb-overs, too. Your gossamer threads are looking a bit thin.
We can see through you.
And there's not much there!
14
Can you trust a man who has now told over 10,000 publicly documented lies since he became President? I think not!!
12
I’m pretty sure AG Barr would be totally OK with more Russian interference. He obviously was ok with everything in the Mueller report and was fully on-board with the cover up.
8
Can someone please open Trumps computer up to this page and make him read this-
Fascism (/ˈfæʃɪzəm/) is a form of radical right-wing, authoritarian ultranationalism[1][2]characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition and strong regimentation of society and of the economy[3] which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.[4] - it won't take him long...
7
" I thought I made that clear...."
Did Brian Masts’s Congressional campaign report the offer from Guccifer 2.0, no the media said they asked for more DNC info.
3
Because he’s super honest haha
2
Can’t you just the Norwegian government scrambling to dig up dirt oo any of the 20 Democrat candidates? Dirt from Norway, why not Finland they are such good rakers!! Unreal
4
Once again, Trump is not the problem. It is the Republicans in the senate that keep him in power. They have betrayed their oaths to the Constitution. And it is Mitch McConnell who enables Trumps methodical destruction of democracy. These are the enemies. Not until they are removed from office will Trump be subject to the rule of law.
17
Now that Trump has contradicted himself yet again, I feel reassured he will do the right thing —wHatever he happens to think the right thing is, on the day he is confronted with the decision, at the time he confronted with facts, depending on who he is talking to, and subject to what he heard that morning on Hannity and Limbaugh.
12
Yet his base still loves him. What has happened to the USA? We are the laughing stock of the world.
1
Trump's lack of sincerity could not be more apparent. His initial reaction was unscripted ("I'd take it") when asked if he would accept Russian assistance in the form of dirt on his opponents. Yes, before his aides screamed in his ear that he was wrong to say it, Trump revealed his inner workings. Only a tidal wave of backlash induced him to belatedly & reluctantly change his tune.
Anyone who believes Trump's belated, insincere, forced repudiation of his initial answer is either extremely gullible or blinded by partisan prejudice.
13
Americans used to be unique in their non-nonsense ability to get to the truth and deal with it as fairly as possible. The fact that nobody really wants to get to the truth about Trump, his shady campaign, his immoral presidency and his unending lie-ridden bombast tells me that America has changed for the worse. We are now much more about avoiding or ignoring the truth if it can hurt our petty self interests. Given who we have become, we deserve Trump.
5
He only changed his tune when it was pointed out to him by those he listens to that it was very bad optics. Legality and integrity had nothing to do with it.
10
I think it's pass time we took to the streets as the citizens of Hong Kong have. They are incredibly brave and I applaud them. Maybe then our representatives will get the message that this person is a menace, well every one except Mitch and cowards in the Senate.
8
There's a greater irony in this story than that the President of the United States can't tell right from wrong. It's that Trump doesn't realize that offers of "dirt" on his political opponents from powers with interests against ours (e.g., Russia) have not, and would not, come his way because Putin thinks Trump's such a "great guy."
Nope, His gigantic and fragile ego totally misses the point -- that these offers owe everything to the fact that our enemies want the U.S. to have the WEAKEST president possible. They want the man or woman most likely to make a shambles of the presidency and the U.S. to be the next American president.
If the Times and other media outlets want to help America get it right in 2020, they might want to go beyond merely reporting on possible crimes, and remind readers who are starting to question if outrage is really worth it that there is still, in our system of laws, an alternative to the cynicism that got us into this mess in the first place.
9
Like the kid caught with his hand literally in the jar he denies it is his hand, and if it is his hand it isn't actually a cookie jar, and even if it is a cookie jar there are no cookies in the jar.
Why do we even waste time anymore trying to prove the senselessness of Trump's lies and lunacy.
11
It's so hilarious that impulsive Trump attacks deliberative Biden for changing a view after holding it for a long time. WOW, will Biden have a lot to put in Trump's face. The Washington Post's tally on Trump lies is over 10K in less than 900 days (and the notion of gaslighting is attributed to Sarah Sanders as a matter of policy).
4
Is Trump going to go back onto Fox News and correct his position? Probably not. So his hard-core followers who look at nothing but Trump on Fox News continue to think this is all just a matter of opinion, and Trump is being picked on. He's done this before.
4
Fascinating how Trump is insistent that refugees should follow laws to the letter, even when those laws prevent saving their own children. Trump, however, follows laws that don't inconvenience him.
8
I think the president may have a sound strategy here to manage news about him.
Say something startling and then give several interpretations of the original statement Or say something diagonally opposite.
The press is then left to report what suits their orientation and there will be multiple versions of the same news and effectively, the readers pick what they want to believe. So, no significant changes in opinion can be expected.
Since the news cycles are short, create another news or two in a few days and the previous discussions disappear.
You repeat the cycle of startling news, various versions and more startling news, the press effectively is neutralised because people would have no idea what is true or what is fake.
Seldom any one has been able to deploy a strategy to manage press and this may be a first!!
5
This is like the guy, an upright honest citizen, who is at the scene of an armoured car roll over. Bags of money everywhere. All the other witnesses are gathering up the bags and bringing them to the incident command area. Trump is a guy who starts to do that, but decides to open the bag and see what's inside 'just out of curiosity'. And the surveillance footage shows him looking in the bag, then he stops walking, looks both ways, and turns around and heads in the opposite direction with the bag tucked under his arm. Just the kind of guy you admire. "Of course I would turn the bag in. It's the right thing to do" he had stated previously when posed with the same hypothetical situation. And all his friends say that's OK with them adding "Not what I would have done. But I can see how someone might. Not a big deal." As they take out their bible for evening prayers. Please tell me one of his sins is a bridge too far.
5
His first answer was his true answer. And in this instance it is also what he would do.
5
What, if anything, did that paragon of virtue, Susan Collins, say when she heard Trump’s initial statement?
4
The same people who voted for trump because he “ says what he means” have spent the last two years explaining he didn’t mean what he said.
22
@Deb
That's a great way of putting it and so true.
4
I do not believe anything he says. How can one believe him? His story changes continually. And now the latest idiocy...he says "his meeting with the Queen was the most fun she had had in 25 years." This man is a laughing stock. He shows no dignity and warrants none from the public. Frankly he must be so lonely, because who else would say such a thing? Is there any psychiatrist analysing this man's behavior? Once again his supporters are not capable of supporting a viable candidate if his latest idiocy with an overseas leader is not considered troubling by them.
3
Re: '...Mr. Trump shifted by saying that while he would still look at incriminating information provided by a hostile foreign power about an election opponent he would “absolutely” report such an encounter..."
Wouldn't if be amusing if someone offers the Trump.Admin MORE foreign electoral assistance / intervention, and, after Trump / his flunkies bite, at the chum, 'N, refuse to notify anyone, the F.B.I. reel's, 'em in, just like 'Abscam'?
3
And he still has supporters - absolutely mind boggling that so many people can be so easily deceived.
10
@Sofedup
He's making it harder for them though. They spend more time making excuses for him than they do expressing support.
1
Yeah, he also said he would release his Tax Returns.
"Absolutely".
5
So Trump says something ridiculous and the Fox talking heads spend their air time that night defending it, then he reversed himself in the morning.
We have entered The Twilight Zone
6
How are we ever to believe a thing this man says? We have no basis to do that with all his lies. misspeaks and changing what he says based on hearing its reaction from his base.
For being the head of our government, he appears to know nothing of our Constitution, our laws, our traditions and our ethical standards.
We must do better next time.
3
“For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.” The republicans in Congress need to listen to the past, as the past is repeating itself with Trump.
9
Part of the problem here is a so-called news outlet that presents 1% news and 99% propaganda. Trump likes to phone in to "Fox and Friends" because he can count on getting stroked most of the time. Fox is a shameless purveyor of gossip, innuendo, and outright falsehoods, propping up and disseminating the lies told daily by the president. Poison is the only word to describe the likes of Hannity, Carlson, Pirro, Ingraham, et al.
7
Too little, too late. He's already revealed himself as the country's biggest threat to national security.
6
Everyone working for Trump is in permanent disaster containment mode, bend over backwards backtracking mode, denial mode, derangement justification mode, and stone cold cover-up mode, apart from enriching themselves and their puppet masters with (instigating, facilitating, or protecting) outrageous fraud and extortion schemes on stiffer steroids to the detriment of everyone else, especially you and me. It never ends and keeps getting worse, worse, worse.
The list of achievements of the oligarchy includes the global warming, pesticidal ecocide, plastic proliferation, and collapsing oceans disasters, the rigging of democracy by gerrymandering, voter suppression, and voting machine fraud, domination of what people consume when they watch a screen or hear radio, omniversal corporate and other power broker spying, recording, and archiving for retroactive spying on wherever our minds stroll online, and ads everywhere. Post WWII there have been a string of ugly wars that America started that all turned into disasters, and countless dirty, covert regime changes that subverted and destroyed peace, democracy, and worker rights and conditions all over the globe. The current Secretary of State and former CIA director Pompeo publicly boasted lying and cheating and stealing as American Glory.
In this grand scheme of affairs, what's another brazen though clumsy exhibit of treason?
What depresses me most is that the guy hellbent on keeping the swamp in place is the leader of the Dem pack.
5
All 20+ Democrat candidates should publicly swear that they would report such contacts to the FBI or other federal agency. They should shame Trump at every opportunity and goad him into saying stupid things. Sad!
27
@albert
Unfortunately he doesn't need goading. Even more unfortunately, the stupid things he says, his base LIKES. So even if we could goad him into saying even stupider things, it would only help him get reelected.
3
Run the interview in all advertising
IN 2004 this was swift boating
In 2020 it’s called patriotism
1
get rid of this guy already. enough is enough.
64
Well we have finally come to the boy president who has cried wolf to many times.
The grainy video we are suppose to believe. Nancy Pelosi drunk video, which was fake.
Whenever the president gets caught in his make believe fantasy some altercation has to take place.
One week it’s the Mexicans the next it’s Venezuela, Koreans, China it never stops
One more lie, trump can go to war with his sons our children are not dying for John Bolton or a traitor to democracy.
26
Go ahead, believe what he says. No matter what is in the news, some sections of the public are so easy to fool.
15
Impeach Trump. He has ruined 2 plus years of American lives and we must investigate his crimes better than we have.we can only do this thru impeachment!
35
We cannot be assured of a fair and free election if Trump is running for re-election. We cannot risk having this law breaking, 73 year old child man calling the shots for all Americans anymore.
29
Some might ask; was he lying before OR is he lying now.....
The answer is YES.
32
I emphatically trust Mr. Trump's judgement in all things. Don't you?
6
No wonder this dude can not have an one on one interview with seasoned FBI interrogators because he will stumbles, fumbles and incriminates himself.
21
Mueller made a big mistake in not insisting Trump be interviewed in person. I’d love Trump, under oath, to contradict Don McGahn.
4
Would love to see him take a polygraph.
21
He would likely pass the test. I’m quite certain that he believes his own lies.
1
He might just pass. Sociopaths can often fool even a polygraph. He may actually believe what he says is true.
2
Trump is true to himself. Executive privilege he takes as confirming his right to power without responsibility, and too bad if that makes him amoral and dangerous. Only nasty people would think so, never mind a majority in the western world.
9
Trump went from “No Collusion” to “Pro-Collusion” to “Report Collusion” in less than two days. Worry not! He may surprise with “Maybe Collusion” or “Whatever Collusion” and others soon!
29
Maybe Trump is schizophrenic or bi-polar? If he "didn't say that" about removing Mueller, maybe that was the other Donald Trump (although I have not seen much difference between either of them).
10
@huh
Please don't spread misinformation about how people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder behave; it has nothing to do with this.
1
The simplest way to interpret Trump is this: whenever his lips are moving he's lying.
39
No more do-overs Mr. President!
15
Trump lies again about reporting foreign contacts and all but admits his 2016 election collusion with Russia.
14
He ignores subpoenas, orders his former and current employees to ignore subpoenas. He refused to be interviewed by Robert Mueller, just flat out refuses to follow the law, his cadre of protectors, attorneys, spokespeople, Chief of Staff(s), acting or otherwise, appearing on media vowing their undying loyalty, defending his egregious acts of lawlessness, lying for him.
Says he will not release his tax returns, calls members of Congress names publicly, disrespects our Allies, tries to create close personal relationships with dictators, who use him and make him (and the US) look like a patsy. He is cruel, has no empathy, is paranoid, has pathological tendencies, yet the Republicans in Congress, with the exception of one brave and principled Republican in Michigan. Mitch McConnell should be run out of town, the sooner, the better. We have a very sick man running the country, making decisions and instills fear in his fellow Republicans. Clean house, they failed their country, their party, they are pathetic.
36
It’s the voters...that’s the excuse.
So he was for it before he was against it?
9
“The word of the President of the United States is good enough for me.”
-- Charles de Gaulle to Dean Acheson regarding the latter’s intelligence on the Cuban missile crisis.
Thought experiment: can we imagine any world leader (including Putin) saying that about this farcical occupant?
23
Why does the Times say "appears to backtrack?" Since he accused another country of an act war the following day, why isn't it called "retreat?" Or since he has a big ego, why isn't it termed "cowering?" Or because he has started his re-election campaign, why isn't it called "flip-flop"? I could go on, but even though he's the president, you are continuing to treat him with far more respect and fairness than he deserves.
25
Trump always has his arms crossed and sits like a petulant child when on the defensive. I cannot trust this administration and I fear the state of our democracy. God help us.
21
Trump had a "slip of the tongue" moment.
1
I am getting so tired of all of the winning!
11
He should never answer hypothetical questions!! When they are asked, he needs to go off script and immediately talk about how great the economy is. Completely change the subject and he needs to do that consistently.
Sometimes I wonder if there'll ever be a disqualifying statement for this generation of dolts who vote.
Sure, I'll take dirt from Poland on my opponents (plus, remember they're building something for me!). Hey, remember it could be from the UK, or Canada, or Mother Theresa, or the Pope, or Poland (hey, wasn't the Pope Polish?). And no I couldn't be bothered to call the FBI, because it's under the Justice Department, and I own the Justice Department. I am above the law now.
Go ahead, say it out loud and clearly at the Republican Convention. I dare you.
8
I think it’s apparent at this point that Trump genuinely doesn’t understand why there’s anything at all wrong with committing treason if it’s to his benefit. He’s struggling with these questions because he’s not really sure how to emulate a sense of ethics.
Asking Trump questions like this is like asking a 10 year old to do calculus. He can manage to grasp that the correct answer to “is murder bad?” is “yes,” but it’s a rote answer. Anything more complex is over his head.
Even “White Supremacists are bad” is too advanced for him. His instinctive answer is “anyone who supports Trump is good,” which is why he couldn’t manage Charlottesville.
27
OF COURSE we all believe him.
3
He [Trump] would “absolutely” report such an encounter. “Of course, you give it to the F.B.I. or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that,”
Pres. Trump tells @GStephanopoulos he wouldn't necessarily alert the FBI if approached by foreign figures with information on his 2020 opponent: "It’s not an interference. They have information. I think I’d take it."
Trump has just evolved a bit in his thinking. He still wants Russian help in the 2020 election because he wants to win at any price. Laws mean nothing.
Reporting to Barr is a worthless endeavor since Barr was appointed AG to be loyal and hide everything illegal.
9
justin amash is the bigger story. he tried to stand up to Trump and he got pushed aside. this is why impeachment wont work. the votes aren't there to remove him. Your best bet is to find a democrat that can beat him
8
It used to be that flip-flopping was political suicide in the US. Now in the Trump era it is the new normal. Trump says something mercurial without any governor on his mouth. Then some tut-tut comes out of a pusillanimous Republican mouth (Lindsey Graham in this case), and Trump does a 180-degree flip-flop.
Dear Mr. Trump. What has been said cannot be unsaid, despite your penchant for denying things you said that were duly and accurately recorded.
But I suppose the MAGA-heads just don't care. 10,000 lies and misleading statement later, they still say things like: "If I wanted to elect a preacher, I would have." They excuse his every crime, his every sin, his every move to cheat and rob them. These are very sad, very deluded people.
20
Is there one ally or adversary left standing who would believe Trump in a crisis?
Is there anyone in the country more capable of creating a crisis than Donald J. Trump?
Impeach while we can, there is no end to what Trump and Barr can and will do to destroy our country.
8
Nothing trump says is reliable. He has demonstrated many times that he is obviously disconnected from what is true.
7
Trust what he said the first time, before there was any public outrage over what he had said. That’s his true self.
7
As far as I can tell, Trump never had a reputation for being an honorable man. And during his 2016 campaign he was so proud of that fact that he bragged about it. If he was drowning, I would not extend my hand out of fear that his real intent would be to harm me.
3
Scatterbrain Trump is not to be taken seriously. As Joe Walsh put it, "You can't argue with a sick mind." As Pelosi said, "He needs help." America needs to 'intervention' him.
8
Would say Mr. Trump is totally conflicted. Does he know that he is conflicted. gGuess he would say, "It doesn't matter." Nothing really matters except winning, certainly the truth doesn't matter, just winning.
This is insanity we are looking at, not a leader. It's so very discouraging this instability and decline.
3
Has AG Barr weighed in on this? I heard one still-optimistic person on Morning Joe say he thought he would, given the clarity of the issue and his past (though quickly eroding) reputation.
7
Given that Trump lied about and denied contacts between the Russians and various people in his orbit and and since then, including helping to draft a dishonest statement for his son, son-in-law, and campaign manager, and his repeated demonstrations of dishonesty and deceit, I don't think we can trust him to do the right thing in the run up to 2020 and beyond. Benedict Arnold sought career advancement with the help of a foreign power, and Donald Trump did something pretty similar.
4
If the Democrat candidate has done nothing wrong, there is no need to fear foreign contries having incriminating evidence. What are they so worried about?
1
Do you understand the meaning of the word hypothetical? My guess is no.
2
Try not to be so obtuse. No one is concerned about dirt on Democrats, they’re concerned about the president of our our country working, illegally, with hostile foreign governments to influence our elections.
Tom Downey in the 2000 election received inside Bush campaign material while working for Al Gore.
When he realized what it was he stopped viewing it at once. Put it back in the package, then was turned over to the FBI within 90 minutes.
15
nothing news
situational ethics is established in "deal making business"
if you don't like amorality,
don't work for corporations.
or watch reality tv.
Does anyone believe that the tables were honest in the Trump casinos?
7
When he calls something someone said "fascist" or "ugly" or a lie, he is always, always projecting. He is covering up the fact that he knew about the meetings with the Russian agents and spies, gave his blessings to the meetings and the information. He broke the law & he plans to again. No remorse, no regrets, no conscience.
9
We need to remember that Trump is a pathological liar. If he had initially said that he would report everything to the FBI, I wouldn’t have believed him. The Russians wouldn’t have. It definitely wouldn’t have stopped them from interfering in 2020 again, as every major new outlet seems to imply. Trump is selfish and predictable, and his words usually belie his intentions.
5
I am surprised that media relentlessly keeps trying to apply criteria of reason to Trump's comments knowing darn well that most what he says is either not true or does not make sense.
It would be by far more interesting and fascinating to hear media comments as to why the Republicans keep supporting Trump as a president. This is truly mind boggling because Most of the Republicans have enough brain to figure out that Trump is absolutely unfit to be a president.
A plausible explanation for the phenomena is that money must be involved. Has the GOP's top echelon, like their boss, become corrupted. Are Russian money involved? Please investigate.
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/03/tangled-web-connects-russian-oligarch-money-gop-campaigns
4
President Fox News is slipping more and more into his own little egocentric world, with flexible words appropriate for his moment, not intelligent reasoned thought. Meanwhile, with his swamp self-draining, the search for even tighter sycophants continues. Actually, with Trump, why even have a press secretary at all.
2
Trump's problem isn't collusion. It's confusion. He thinks his adversaries are his friends and his allies are his enemies. But that is not confusion if he thinks that is true. He says the press is the enemy of the people. He bashes the intelligence community. Trump is always going to play every thing he does both ways. He will say he heard it but he didn't know what he heard or what he meant or what he said and what that meant! The truth isn't the truth, his attorney says. Fascist. Nothing else.
6
That's what Mr. Trump meant to say all along.
Probably
Maybe
Maybe not
We expect this sort of thing from a toddler just caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
This is the president of the USA
8
Trump has no ethics. His instinct and behavior is to do anything to get what he wants, whether it is illegal or not. His lawyers have a 24/7 job of keeping Trump out of jail by telling Trump what to say after he says what his gut tells him to do.
Why Republicans admire and respect this guy, and votes for this guy, is anyone's guess.
4
Mr. Trump said. “They spied on my campaign and they got caught.”
Actually Mr Trump YOU tried to collude with the Russians and YOU got caught.
11
Now I am truly worried. This last interview, from our President, which appears to suggest presidential powers rise above our laws only supports my fears.
So many comments have emphasis how "he", the President rises himself above "we", the people.
Some years ago I had an uncomfortable feeling when Trump addressed the Boy Scouts of America. I had been a Boy Scout leader for my children, but my mother had also been studying in Germany in 1938. Forgive my feeling; but I felt it.
Just what is this division. Technology is playing a huge role. Was the Civil War slavery or cotton..
This world Is complicated. It isn't one or the other. To work together does not denote socialism, it might mean the world has grown. Some thing we do better together, but we still need to keep progressing.
Finding the kind and successful balance is never simple. How I hope we can come closer.
5
No wonder Trump lies so much; he gets himself into so much trouble when he forgets and tells the truth.
10
Just another lie in a mountain of lies. Trump already admitted his preference for “collusion”, and that’s that!
3
No wonder most of his appearances are on Friendly Fox. When confronted with facts, and follow up questions, he falls flat on his face. He is truly out of his depth, without a hint of a clue!
7
Donald's truths are always relative.
And his relatives are rarely truthful.
14
Yeah, sure he would. I believe people first impulse, not the one after they’ve taken political assessment of their statements.
5
@Wynn We also know that the last time around, he took foreign help, did not notify the FBI, and lied about the Russians' involvement in his campaign. Actions speak louder than words.
6
Yesterday’s truth by Trump becomes today’s lie by Trump
He does this all the time
George asked why Trump would answer his questions but not answer the same questions from Mueller. Easy answer George, Trump cannot go under oath..ever!
8
If he reported foreign election interference to the Attorney General, William Barr, would the AG treat it as he treated the Mueller report?
9
Under Fire, Trump Says He Would ‘Absolutely’ Report Foreign Campaign Help
Except... he didn't. And his son didn't. And his campaign manager didn't. And then all of them tried to cover it up, lied about it, deflected and miss-directed investigation about it.
So maybe, next time, when (not 'if') there is a next time, he might. Maybe.
But Trump says "absolutely". And I "absolutely" believe him...
14
Words mean nothing, except in the moment. They have no past, no future. They are simply for the show, which is in that moment.
6
Hang on a second here: Trump, in his interview with Fox told them that absolutely he would call the FBI if he were given "bad information". Which clearly tells us that if he felt he was given "good" information, he would not do so. This man either doesn't believe in the rule of law, or he doesn't understand it. I go with both.
12
The fluctuations in the mind of our President is of great concern.What will happen if the situations evolve using the weapons of mass destruction or war possibilities.A back up team is needed to review the actions of our President relating to internal and external decisions.
3
This is not speculative.
We already know what he would do because he did it.
15
It’s simple, Trump will do whatever he is allowed to get away with. Ethics, morals, and legality only mean something when he is held to account.
13
This is the Overton window. Typical Trump strategy. Because time has passed and he has backpedaled (this was always the plan), our public discourse is no longer in shock over his statement and he can follow it up with less provocative statements that before the radical one seemed unacceptable. Now however, these less provocative statements will seem tame in comparison, and the window of acceptable public discourse has been expanded.
Typical autocrat strategy.
9
Trump is lying. He was more than happy that foreign actors inserted themselves into the 2016 elections, and would not be unhappy if he benefits from this in 2020. What is most shocking is that McConnell is willing to hold up legislation to strengthen elections. Once again the GOP picks party over our nation.
6
@dairyfarmersdaughter
To my compatriot in the State of Washington. Your astute comment about McConnell is spot on! That man has no morals or ethics which is significant reason that our country is in great danger.
1
I'm going back to when Trump told a crowd of people that "maybe cops shouldn't be so careful" when they're putting people in the back of a squad car.
It was, for him, a laugh line and people at the rally responded accordingly.
But I've met people who were wrongfully convicted and I've met the relatives of people killed by cops. I'm not alleging any kind of conspiracy. What I am saying is that when people's lives are at stake - yes -police should be careful.
Trump is a glib, emotionally vacant person. I don't believe he has had a single thought or a moment's concern about anyone not in his immediate family.
That's a shame.
Government exists to do the things that individuals cannot. We assign cops to protect our streets, Agencies to protect our food, water and air. And on and on. This tendency or need to vilify government is warped.
We ARE both the government and the governed...of the people, by the people, for the people...that kind of thing.
7
When you read them, Trump’s statements, back tracks and rationalizations you are left with the question whether trump actually understands the concept of law. Are there laws Trump recognizes or simply a bias self-serving stream of consciousness?
2
Why does anyone believe what Trump says? I’m serious, what has he done to earn public trust?
7
@Observer Nothing, especially in view of the many lies and deceptive statements he has made. Can you respect people and yet lie to them all the time? I don't think so.
2
He's guilty of full collusion with enemies of the United States. Mueller failed. He just didn't have the intelligence, education, wisdom, courage, or whatever to call it what it was or what it continues to be. Neither do most House Democrats.
At some point, moral duty needs to outweigh electability.
Personally, I'm done with appeasement to the political right. I don't care if the middle or middle-left loses every election for the next 20 years. I just want to be on the correct side of history.
3
@Bill Bear in mind that at least a dozen investigations are still going on, most of them spun out of Mueller's investigation, but also a counterintelligence inquiry that began about the same time as Mueller's inquiry. Rome wasn't built in a day.
2
Do you believe me yesterday or today? He is a character out of Lewis Carroll.
Experience tells me Trump was lying both times.
5
To paraphrase Maya Angelou, "When a person shows you who he is, believe him the first time."
7
@Mark Kessinger
That would've been some time in the 1980s.
4
We know the first thing out of Trump’s mouth was the correct version, because he already did it in 2016! This guy would be a laughable joke if he were only a NYC real estate hack who dabbled in bankrupting airlines, football teams and good taste. Alas, he’s our Russian-bought-and-paid-for President.
7
There is no “appears.” There is only backtrack or did not backtrack.
2
If this is what Trump says to U.S. national media, what do you think he discussed in his private meetings with Putin?
6
@ClydeS I suspect Trump mainly said something like, "Right, chief."
3
The man sits in the oval office and doesn't know the law. Even if one doesn't know the written law, a President should have common sense. I'm so very tired of his ignorance, his lack of a moral sensibility, I don't know what I would do if he is elected again!
13
Thing is, the Law refuses to sleep with him. You can see why that’d make a big fat guy cranky.
@Jose Pieste
Actually , the law does prevent foreign intervention in elections and the key phrase is "something of value" when the law prohibits candidates from receiving information from foreign sources. Opposition research is "something of value" and receiving that info is prohibited by law.
So Trump is saying he would not comply with this law. Oh, that is what he said day before yesterday. Yesterday, it's a different story. Wonder what tomorrow's answer will be.
2
@Jose Pieste
Actually there is. Please see the statement issued by Ellen Weintraub, chairwoman of Federal Election Commission at https://twitter.com/EllenLWeintraub.
I think he will not do what he is saying. He says something and backtracks. Then, he says something else. What to believe? The first statement, the second one, or the third one? Completely clueless with no respect for constitution and law!
7
Why are we still making any observations about this tragic mistake in the Oval Office?
There is nothing new to say!
11
Ot’s kind of like commenting on cat videos.
After the last 10000 lies, I am in no hurry to believe anything this president says.
11
And growing.
Trump is dangerously undermining our country and our democracy. He is unfit for the office of President
8
Relax everyone. I'm sure he just misspoke. Like he did in Helsinki.
6
Warning to Trump:
The boy who cried "Wolf!" too many times was not believed when he faced a real wolf. He was eaten by the wolf because nobody came to help.
The moral is, just in case it is not clear; don't lie a lot because you will not be believed when you really need to be believed.
5
I think you mean Wolff!
Hopefully, the real wolf arrives soon.
That ship sailed a very long time ago
1
Not a fan of Trump in any way, but my question is, was it acceptable for Clinton’s campaign to accept help from a British former intelligence agent in the way of a dossier against Trump with the alleged help of Russian intelligence? Have I got this right?
3
No, you don’t have it right. Campaign opposition by, as you note, a former agent, then working independently versus a foreign govt agency with emails stolen by the KGB.
5
Not a fan of Trumpists in any way, but here’s a tip.
Whenever you start a post with “I’m not a Trumpist,” anybody with a grain of sense thinks immediately that you’re a Trumpist.
Thing ia, they’re almost always right, too.
5
Nope, you've got it wrong.
3
Not only would he report it to the FBI, but it would be the Greatest Report to the FBI in American History.
5
He already was offered dirt, stolen dirt no less, on his opponent from a hostile foreign power.
He took it. He did not report it. He then lied about it to the public.
Wake up America.
13
@jose. Sorry, dude as it is illegal to accept anything, financial and otherwise, from a foreign entity during a federal election process. This fact was established in the original US constitution. The Founders were strongly opposed to foreign influence in our elections and national governance, which was true in the European and British monarchies.
2
@Jose Pieste
Actually, it is illegal. Because.... the "dirt" on his opponent is "something of value" and accepting that from a foreign source is prohibited by law. Because it's interfering in an election.
1
He would report it like he did in the Russia investigation? The 45th is a complete joke. Corrupt to the core.
8
So, what Trump said yesterday is gone, replaced by what he said today. Orwell's memory hole really does exist at least in the minds of some people. Those cursed with memory can only lower their heads in dismay.
6
Anything and everything Trump says means nothing.
11
How is publicly endorsing illegal activities by the President of the United States -- saying that he would not report interference in our election by foreign entities to the FBI or law enforcement -- not itself a violation of the law? Is that not a form of incitement, unprotected by the First Amendment? This is the President, after all, speaking in his official capacity and using the power of his office to announce his intention to decide the law for himself and accept illegal assistance to remain in office. Did he not swear an oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States"? What could be a greater threat to our Constitutional rights than a direct attack on our elections?
It's time to test that Office of Legal Counsel opinion against indicting a sitting president for criminal conduct. We have a President who flouts the law and openly discredits the Constitution. Combined with a Congress too frightened or corrupt to hold him accountable to the law, and we have a recipe for Constitutional catastrophe.
Now what? It looks like 2020 may be too late.
10
I agree with your very well stated points. What's worse is the creepy McConnell who has been pandering for so long. He has not so much sold as given his soul to the devil, abdicated his responsibilites, ignored his oath, and thumbed his nose at the Constitution. Start by impeaching him.
1
I guess he meant sorry- poll results just came in. I meant the opposite of what I said, OK, you understand? The democrats are the criminals, I always said that, OK. Absolutely I would tell someone, maybe even the FBI.
True story- I was approached by a KGB agent in the early 80's trying to infiltrate the company in which I worked. Initially it seemed innocuous then it was clear the agent was fishing for confidential information. I reported it to head of corporate security, a former FBI agent. He told me how to shut it down. Pretty much a no brainer- how come the Trumps didn't know this?
9
@Tom The Trumps think laws are for the little people.
Do we not yet understand that we are dealing with a pathological narcissist, one who say anything to squirm out an uncomfortable moment of self-revelation if it promises to compromise his desperate need for adulation? None of us matter to him. He is a miscreant who appeals to the most venal instincts among his supporters. The mad grifter king. This man will not relinquish power peacefully. There are only two 2020 outcomes: he wins marginally in the electoral college with foreign interference, losing the popular vote by 7-8 million, or he contests a narrow Democratic win and refuses to leave. Do you really imagine a peaceful transfer of power in January 2021 under either circumstance? The question is: what are we prepared to do in such a situation? A multi-state, multi-city secession? Do you think we are the first democracy to confront such a reckoning? Try Rome, 380 BC.
9
If anyone is in doubt that this president is way out of control and making things up as he goes along as a substitute for real thought, they, like Trump, have a very foggy grasp of reality.
When will this circus come to a stop? How long do we have to keep on going through this surreal ordeal?
This situation is like the comic comment on the Public Radio disaster signal, "This is not your real life, this is not your real life, if it were your real life you would have been given better instructions."
7
What’s kind of funny is how easily Trump humiliates his supporters (not that they need any help). Yesterday they were defending and justifying is original statement, and today he totally reverses himself, which negates all of their time and effort on his behalf. Trump managed to make his supporters look even more clownish than he does, and I’m not sure how that’s possible.
Nicely done, “President” Trump!
(slow clap)
8
I watched the video of this instance. President Trump invited a reporter to follow him around for 30 hours ( Did Obama ever do that?) and had an impromptu answer regarding if information appeared on his desk and ended it with talking about involving the FBI. This is a far cry from the resultant reality-disconnected media furor, which is quite typical.
When Congress wants to actually do something positive for the country with a president who barely ever uses his veto power,(unlike his predecessor), I am sure that would be most welcome by the general American public.
3
@Mark Trump's initial answer was essentially the way he behaved in 2016 with the Russians. Congress has produced relatively little legislation during the Trump years (and so few opportunities for vetoes) because Trump is remarkably inept as a legislative leader and because of the serious differences of opinion within the Congress. Members of the House in both parties crafted a bipartisan immigration reform bill and passed it through the House. However, when Trump expressed his opposition to the proposal, Mitch McConnell smothered it in the Senate. Neither the president nor McConnell did any work to improve the draft legislation.
3
Let me give you a hint. This man is certifiably mentally sick and will destroy this system of Government if we don’t rid ourselves of him ASAP. And here you defending him because you watched a “video.” In other words, you could care less about your Country. How utterly sad.
@David Nice
I agree that President Trump is not skilled at legislative leadership. For the record, I find that President Obama signed 147 bills versus 12 vetoes during his first term and that President Trump has signed 117 bills versus 3 vetoes during his first term so far.
This president isn't meant for the presidential job. He just by chance happened to be there by no credit of his own. #whenenoughhasntbeenenoughwhenwillit?
4
Want to break your own heart even more than it's broken already today? Check out photos of President Obama celebrating HIS birthday in the White House.
5
Does anyone really believe what a serial liar has to say?
5
He has the convictions of a rock. No doubt Lindsey Graham beseeched him to recant. Millions of flies swarm the White House.
4
The textbook definition of a charlatan and a "know nothing". Trump doesn't know what he is talking about but he can't stop talking, dissembling and manipulating. He proudly displays his ignorance like a fellow facist bully, Mussolini. Thanks Mitch! (sarcasm)
4
Trump is a liar. We cannot put off his impeachment any longer. Win or lose we must learn what this evil man is up to and we can only do this by opening an impeachment investigation.
8
Gee whiz, hmmmmm...was it in Helsinki where words were spoken which required a do over. Again, serious business....The republicans elected a misinformed person with no sense of honor for the country or the Constitution. He dithers in front of the TV watching faux news.
5
Him becoming president may be the worst joke America ever served to the world.
6
If his lips are moving, he's lying. Add it to death and taxes.
8
He lies!!! A couple of weeks ago, he was about to dispatch his “personal lawyer”, Rudy Giuliani to travel to the Ukraine to get dirt on VP Biden, only after the press put pressure on Giuliani, did he withdraw his trip plans. However, his foreign agents are probably at work.
9
The Unindicted Co-conspirator can't keep his lies straight.
10
What goes around comes around. The snake bites his own tail. The world turns, there is always a backlash and what a backlash there is building for the Trump era! A backlash like no one has ever seen before. Building up with every Trump lie and every cowardly republican response, with every racist remark, every stupidity and every treasonous act. The backlash grows.
The American people will stand up and say "This is not who we are!, we are far better than this!".
7
How could we possibly trust this habitual liar?
8
Remember: Don Jr. said, "I love it!" regarding possible dirt on Hillary Clinton. He then said he did not see anything wrong with that. He then said his father his not know about it. He then said it was about adoptions. Right.
8
What is it with the failing New York president and Norway?
First, he wondered why Norwegians don’t migrate to the USA ? (😂)
Then, the other day he talked about “getting dirt” from Norway.
Is he hoping to open a golf course there?
6
Let this be a lesson to you, Donald J Trump...
You told the truth initially and what good did it do you? The truth is not your friend. Never has been, never put a dime in your pocket, never helped you build anything. Avoid it whenever possible.
3
Perfect! Say one thing to the "mainstream" media, and another to your faithful Fox News, which ensures your supporters will see it. Then you can tell them -- See! Fake news!
5
What, NYT? Trump "appeared to backtrack somewhat"? Appeared, somewhat? Nice words. Not flipped?
In fact he lied --Now he'd “absolutely” report such an enounter.
Does the Times use diplomatic wording so the Trump/GOP FOX axis won't call it a left wing paper?
The Times wants readers from across the spectrum. It's like many Dem candidates, who know they have the liberals but don't want to alienate Middle grounders, Independents and Undecideds. So they pitch their language and proposals accordingly.
This contributes to the distortion of how bad things really are.
4
Another shooting in the middle of 5th Avenue.
13
He did not "backtrack".
He Flip-flopped!!
How ironical - He tells the truth for the first time in his life and then immediately realized he should have told his usual -A LIE!!
6
After years of accusing Mrs. Clinton of “Lock Her Up”!, who is in fact the most corrupt? “Lock Him Up! Lock him up!
Mitch McConnell is a coward and public enemy number one, for his comments diminishing the outrage over President Trumps Foreign “Dirt” Remarks. from the Oval Office. Mitchell and Elaine have some of their own explaining to do concerning their own alleged corruption charges. The whole Trump dysfunctional administration is corrupt. Republicans have no shame!
Let me clarify, we will amass in great numbers, to vote against Donald J. Trump and his enablers come Election Day, if his alleged multiple obstruction of justice, and abuse of presidential powers, corruption crimes don’t toss him out of office first. Enough is enough!
Hail to the “Liar in Chief!”
8
Here he is, the President of the United States...purely and simply, rotten to his very core.
12
He flips and then he flops. Nothing new. However, totally ignoring the laws of the land is getting old. No one is exempt from our laws. Everything he does is to benefit his self-centered ego. He's turning our country into a Banana Republic.
6
This latest interview of Trump by ABC in which Trump calls McGahn lied necessitates McGahn testifying before the House. Forget about executive privilege. Trump voided that.
6
How is this news? Haven’t you been paying attention at POTUS for the last 2 years?
3
There once was a crooked man who lived in a crooked house.
He found a crooked AG with a crooked little smile.
And both of them danced a crooked jig for all to see.
“I did not mean what I said” said the crooked little man.
“And if it happened...who will stop me.” “Not my AG nor my crooked little Mitch”.
So off he danced and twirled laughing...content in his crookedness.
4
Since when does that person in the White House thinks he knows anything about the laws of our country. He understands absolutely nothing and is always getting caught because everything he says proves he is ignorant. He's been a wheeler-dealer all his life; a nasty vindictive person only out for what's in it for him. He'll skirt the law in every possible way he can. Aren't we sick and tired of such an incompetent ruining our country each and every day he sits in the W.H. He's playing at being president and doing it badly.
3
At this point, why should ANYONE believe ANYTHING that Donald Trump says?!?
5
And I am Marie of Romania.
3
The American president was clearly disdainful when asked about reporting approaches by foreign individuals attempting to interfere, influence or meddle, in his remarks to George Stephanopoulos. His talkbacks and backtracks are irrelevant.
His ignorance and lack of a moral compass was again evident, on display for the world to see.
This is an almost daily occurrence.
It reflects poorly on the institution of American democracy that this vacuous individual has endured in his "elected" position, post the Mueller report and continues to make a mockery of every upheld principle, value, norm and ideal that decent Americans hold close.
What will it take for the people of the United States to remove this blight, this insult to normal civility?
The erosion of many of the foundational pillars of the America of history is visible and then thought of the irrevocable damage that is likely occurring behind the scenes is beyond alarming.
I salute the press and also the late night commentary and incisive assessments and reviews they deliver, but people, this stopped being amusing or shocking or outrageous a long time ago.
It feels like everything we teach our children to be and to do is bundled into a punching bag that is being knocked out every day by this clown.
8
It’s a fact. Mr. Trump would absolutely avail himself of foreign influence as he has already done. There is nothing to suggest that his moral compass has changed. The only remaining question is if he would get away with it.
3
@Bill
Of course he would. He already did. There are no remaining questions. This is done.
1
Actually what he said was that he would need to look at it to see if he shouldn't be looking at it.
2
Thomas Jefferson said, "the whole art of government consists in the art of being honest." John Adams wrote that he understood Jefferson was "apprehensive of foreign Interference, Intrigue and Influence."
That is in part what is behind the Emoluments Clause, also evidently violated by Trump.
The Founding Fathers knew a thing or two about foreign interference.
Republicans will be judged by history, and every day they ignore Trump's outrages is another day that will be chronicled, not just in the law courts but in the history of this nation. Nixon will fade in comparison.
5
You know i have a good friend in Norway who just sent me a message she intercepted that was sent to Trump on "dirt" that he can use in the next election. It said, "The United States has a Russian stooge for a President."
When are we going to find out what the polling data was that Manafort, a foreign agent, turned over to the Russians, and if and how they used that data in attacks through social media on Americans. Do they still have the data, and should individuals be warned that the Russians have it?
Has facebook/twitter informed us specifically of where their Russian feeds went, and have those accounts been warned? Facebook users are probably immune to their ads, but were the posts disguised as posts from "friends"? If the latter, fb should be liable for each and every post. They can't take payment for the posts in rubles and then claim they didn't know they were from Russia.
Looking at the posts from the Russians and comparing them to emails and mail sent to Republican by the Republicans, did they differ? Also correlate this to any influence pedaling done by the NRA to their members. They shouldn't get a free ride if they were also collaborating with the Russians, especially if they accepted funds. Shuffling funds to non-political areas is just not believable during an election. They are not a charity, and a lack of gun control laws in the U.S., which they control, has led to more gun deaths in the U.S. this year by March 6, than all the U.S. killed on D-Day.
4
Reading “Post-Truth”. The more Trumpsters are confronted by Trump’s outrageous behavior, the more they double down on their support.
4
Trump would take money or information or anything else that helps him, from any foreign government. Even if it hurts the US. As long as it helps Trump. Do his supporters know that he is not helping America, only Trump?
6
@Will Hogan
They don’t care. As long as he’s “sticking it to the libs”, it’s all good to them.
3
To quote the old Carole King song, "But it's too late baby now it's too late..."Just another brick in the wall of treasonous narcissistic authoritarianism. It's not a gaffe, it's undemocratic but he likes it.
4
Why are we bothering to respond to this poor representation of a human being?
My only hope is that Karma catches up with him and his family.
Unfortunately, there is a child that will be scarred.
9
Our only hope is to vote the dictator and his enabler out in 2020. McConnell is more to blame than DJT.
9
Baron is autistic at the very least, never sees his father or siblings, I don’t think he’ll even notice when they’re locked up.
"Trump now says he would ‘absolutely’ report foreign help."
No, that is not like Trump at all. Please tell me he rolled his eyes when he said that.
"'Oh, let me call the FBI.' Give me a break. Life doesn't work that way.”
Now, that is classic Trump.
11
@Bhaskar
Trump is so ignorant of the law that he thought that soliciting foreign interference in an election on his own behalf could be labeled "diplomacy". Then one of his Republican servants informed him that what he was saying was highly illegal and even treasonous. So Trump backed off...for the moment. His avid fans however, don't really care what he says or does..they just adore him under every and all circumstances ...
1
Oh NOW he changes his tune. But the truth/damage is already done.
Dear democrats. Please start impeachment process. The majority of the country is behind you. It is definitely the chance worth taking.
Somebody needs to stand up and enough is enough!
8
If Democrats are any smart - trump just has provided them with the perfect campaign slogan to be used against him during the next year's campaign.
Then use his own tactic against him. Play the clip "of course I would accept the info on my opponents from foreign governments" over & over 2400 times a day until his own followers will realize that he is not what they have been lead to believe he is - tough, smart & worse of all - a self-proclaimed " Patriotic American"
7
Trump lies all the time and is so confused because he has no moral compass. He has done a 180 on this in the span of 24 hours. We do not know if our intelligence agents are safe from this waffling, confused and conflicted leader who seemed to indicate that it was unacceptable to have a highly placed spy on North Korea. What will happen if we bumble into a war with Iran? Is it even possible that the GOP could put the country ahead of their own greedy interests?
2
The question with Trump is always the same:
Was he lying then, or is he lying now, or both?
3
Trump is slippier than a swamp rat. Keeps changing his story.
To drain the swamp, one must remove Trump.
And since the Republicans are giving tax money back to rich people and huge corporations, and relaxing the protections on the banking system that were put in place after the 2008 meltdown, relaxing the protections of consumers from payday loan sharks, and relaxing all the protections the EPA enforces on clean water and air for PEOPLE, I would say that to drain the swamp means to get rid of the Republicans too. Something the middle of the country to consider....
5
We are at the point where absolutely nothing Trump says has any credibility other than verifying how dangerous and arguably deranged this president is to our democracy and to world stability.
7
"Did I say I would commit a federal crime in front of a TV camera? What I meant to say was I would totally never commit a crime."
Keep on winning, America!
7
We need to press for accountability with the Republicans in Congress. Their actions are a treasonous disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law. The Democrats are guilty of not holding their republican colleagues to their sworn oaths.
2
I'm exhausted. And I live in Australia. Make it stop...
25
@SL
Yeah, rub it in. Thanks.
I really should just save this comment and paste it into every article about this man.
I am stunned that someone of his advanced age does not have a firmly established set of core beliefs, code of ethics and and grounding in reality.
He seems to live in a childlike fantasy land.
The bombast, the lies, the venom...he seems very incredibly damaged and pitiable.
24
@Third.Coast
At his advanced age, he is probably in his second childhood. Just look at the way he talks and behaves.
I am stunned, Stunned! that he is lying again.
He probably talked to Giuliani or similar lawyer advisor.
As for changing his mind, what mind?
9
Trumps phone call to Fox this morning was a new low.How can the Repubs put up with his nonsense?
7
In short, Trump cannot be trusted.
Just ask the First Lady/Third Wife.
Or his two ex-wives.
11
What a good idea!
Then he called Putin and told him not to worry because he had his fingers crossed during the Fox and Friends interview.
12
Trump Country: aren't you tired?
11
does anybody believe a word this man says anymore?
7
the man is clearly not well. I maybe able to forgive him knowing that. its obvious. he has a personality disorder that needing intense counseling when he was about 8. he wont get it now. what baffles me is the people that allow it to happen. why? because of some conservative judges on benches ( any republican would have accomplished that) around the country, or is it the measly tax cut, or maybe the hope that he would be the one who sends black people to the proverbial back of the bus. I just don't get it. the man is obviously sick
11
Trump is the confused, uninformed, egomaniac with his fingers on the nuclear trigger that the Republicans pushed into the White House. Are they pleased with the damage they are doing to the United States, to the entire planet? Are the billionaire owners of the GOP happy with their investment in Donald Trump?
10
Trump has no credibility. 2/3 of Americans don't believe him and the other 3rd are just uneducated fools. What he claims cannot be believed without verifiable proof. There is no point in listening to him talk.
8
Why should we believe a liar? It is a shame a president has this ignominious label. Was the first statement or the second statement the lie?
3
Those three clowns on FOX and Friends - I don't think anyone, even Trump supporters, has an ounce of faith in them. What an embarrassment they are. And then add Trump into the mix - this is what the United States of America has become?
8
Trump spoke his true beliefs the interview (and on the record) and only changed his tune due to near universal condemnation and mockery. Whether Trump would actually report such shenanigans to the FBI and Justice Department is very questionable and doubtful since he did not do so in the 2016 election. Furthermore, didn't his lawyer, Giuliani, make plans to go to the Ukraine to gather alleged dirt on VP Biden's son to for political use? Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me! Not that I nor most New Yorkers were ever fooled by this incompetent con man.
4
Right. Is that bridge in Brooklyn still for sale?
4
Why would anybody ever assume that Trump has finally grasped the significance of verbal commitment, i.e., not simply lying your way out of a situation which you perceive to not be favorable to yourself.
This guy is 5th Avenue shootings on steroids, and soi-disantly so.
The often maligned used car salesman should be seen as the paragon of promissory virtue when it comes to Donald J. Trump.
The man is totally amoral, end of discussion.
With his word and $6 you can get yourself a reasonably good cup of latté.
2
Interesting that when you're a politician you can simply "walkback" statements and the NYT reports it as news.
In reality, where most of us little people live and work, if you lie or break the law, you have to face the consequences...
7
The republicans are as laughable as Trump. They get a chance to stop anyone in the future from knowing you can’t talk to foreign powers hoping to get dirt on your adversaries. They stop it and old McConnell says it’s over. They are so used to his inept, illegal actions they don’t do anything. He will never do enough wrong for them. Party above country is their motto. Shame on them.
2
I found this a few days ago from a comment of a couple of years ago. Seems to still apply today:
Trump's a traitor
An Amerian hater
Favors Putin
To America crater.
He's hit paydirt
Reached the nadir
His base thinks
They've found their savior.
But once in office
America's under heavy assault
Repubs however find no fault--
Public coffers go into private vaults,
Cause Titans of business want it all.
Money spent
Money lent
Mostly to the 1%.
Next, social services are targeted
For the chopping block.
People just get the shaft
And the bill for his wall.
5
Trump is ever entertaining:
He call Nancy Pelosi "fascist" & "a disgrace" while he flippantly dismisses the FBI and openly flaunts treason while sitting in the oval office.
People claim he wants to be impeached, but I don't think he's clever enough to manipulate that to happen. He's genuinely unhinged and daily expresses a handbook full of personality disorders. There's a lot wrong with this man.
4
I absolutely believe tRump (unwittingly) told the truth the first time. I have yet to find any of his 'walking back' statements credible.
4
Puh-leeze. Trump said exactly what he meant the first time. He also betrayed his criminal intent, surely applying retroactively to the 100 contacts between his campaign and Russians documented by Mueller. The rest is Trumpian mind games.
3
Does any one know if it is a problem (legal or ethical) for him to PAY FOREIGN AGENTS FOR dirt on an opponent?
It seems that a lot of the legal concerns focus on receiving gifts (the op research) but if one pays then it's not a gift.
1
And you’re giving Lying 45 a work-around why?
1
@Quin
No, heavens no. But it seems a reasonable question from the point of view of legal rules.
1
It's open season for a country like China and other adversaries to jump on the opportunity to destabilize the US democracy following Russia's successful example. More sophisticated cyber campaigns to do so may very well be already underway to influence our elections in 2020. And now new strategies for the direct promotion of providing opposition research is a plus. Given the many new possible culprits to influence the election, it will be a tangled web to unravel to verify the legitimacy of the results. Once again, Trump continues to seed chaos and to disrupt the democratic process of free and fair elections. When he speaks so recklessly his words are heard loud and clear around the globe and our national security is ultimately at risk.
2
I think the question ought to be this: does any person, after watching this man as president for nearly 2.5 years think he would report foreign campaign help if he knew about it? Would he do so promptly? Or would he wait until after the election and then report it? Furthermore, did another can of worms escape here: will he decide to claim, if he loses, that the other person's campaign had foreign help whether or not it did?
Trump is not trustworthy, truthful, or any number of things we expect a president to be. We don't expect a president and a party to betray our country, to lie to us in so blatant a fashion that there is no question about the lying, to foment racism, and other disgraceful "isms". We expect leadership, responsible leadership. Trump and the GOP have failed to display that at every turn.
I used to think that Nixon did more to destroy Americans' trust in government than any prior president. I was wrong: it's Trump, the GOP, and his entire administration.
6/14/2019 8:10pm
6
"Mr. Stephanopoulos pressed Mr. Trump about why Mr. McGahn would lie. 'Because he wanted to make himself look like a good lawyer,' Trump said."
If trump's lying to make himself look like a good president, it isn't working.
5
You can't listen to dirt from a foreign source on an opponent and report it to the FBI. You either follow the law or you don't. Listening to foreign intelligence, or even an offer of intelligence is illegal. It doesn't matter whether it's useful or not. It sounds like Trump is willing to follow the law unless breaking the law is more advantageous. I'm willing to pay taxes unless I can find something better to spend my money on.
4
President 45 continuously tries to reword his way out of a mess he got himself into. In the clip, he gave himself yet another way out. He says if he thought there was a problem, he would report it to the FBI, or the AG. Since the AG works for President 45, I simply see it as yet another way that he changed his strategy to defy the law. President 45 does not give any thought to what the consequences of his impulsive actions might be, or to what effect his actions have on the citizens of the united states. Ever since his exoneration in the Mueller investigation, President 45 has become more fortifying, and impulsive, as if he is untouchable, and in the interview, I feel as if he said exactly what he meant. President 45 probably would report someone for receiving foreign campaign help, but as a man whose moral compass points only towards his ego, I feel he would except campaign help from foreign countries if it benefited himself. President 45 says if he felt someone were receiving help from a foreign campaign, he would report it to the proper authorities, but in order for one to properly enforce the law, one would have to know the law first, and President 45 clearly appears to be ignorant of it, even though he is the president of the United States. The backtracking he does is just a cover up, and he did tell truth from his point of view. In his eyes, the law is what he says it is, and it's just ridiculous.
Nothing Trump says has any credibility left at this point, in pretty much any arena outside of the Fox News, alt-right, post-fact fanboy realm. There is simply no way for him to do his job beyond his first term, if anybody can really believe that he’s currently “doing his job”.
3
He flip-flops so often that he could flop back again and prove that Mueller was right about the collusion.
3
Too late, Donald. That cat's out of the bag - and plastered all over the media for eternity.
3
The President's words matter as much as his actions because of the power at his fingertips. His allies continually fall back on "don't worry until he operationalizes what he says," but that ignores his ongoing project to intimidate the legal system, invite corruption from foreign powers, and dance on the graves of his predecessors. His words ARE the operation.
5
Stable Genius.
3
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
What is it going to take, Nancy Pelosi ?
10
@DJS
What about the Republican Party?
2
A man who lies for breakfast now wants a war too.
8
Is there anyone out there ...,, why is trump still president??
10
@Robert Schmid, I from out there have heard your cry, but would you prefer me instead? If so, better tidy the place up a little first, it’s a mess. We are in a tough jam, Richard.
Now does anyone wonder why Trump didn't testify under oath to Robert Mueller. Of course not. This president cannot tell the truth and can make your head spin when he speaks.
He tried to clean up his mess this morning on Fox and Friends but it didn't work out too well. He said, "of course he would turn over dirt to the FBI after he listened to it"!
This is a president who can't explain a mistake coherently and only digs himself into a bigger hole.
Today president Trump is 73 but a young child could do a lot better when he or she needed to apologize.
Pathetic!
10
What a corrupt, disgusting comment from the President of the United States.
I am encouraging everyone that has an American Flag to fly it upside down on the 4th of July. Let the world see that this country is in distress.
21
Isn't it great to be above the law. Say anything you want, do anything you want and then a day later take a 'do over' when your comments are universally viewed as Anti-American (the country you are supposed to be leading). Is it any wonder that the rest of the world, including our previous close allies, do not look to us to lead anymore. Incredible how one person can literally take the reputation of a great nation into the toilet.
24
What does the New York Times mean by "President Trump appeared to backtrack..."? Appearance has nothing to do with it. Why not "President Trump backtracked" or "President Trump once more contradicted himself"?
39
Have I got this right Trump would and wouldn’t accept information from foreign governments and while he would report it to the FBI he Would read it... and presumably use it, since what’s the point in even reading it if it’s not to be used?
Look up “Lying Hypocrite” in the dictionary and guess whose picture you see? Give you a clue. Same person as the one accompanying “unindicted co-conspirator, no not Nixon”
12
No Do Overs Donnie. Your first response to ABC was what you would have actually done. We don't need your coached responses.
25
As an outsider I do not have a say and do not want to offer advice from a foreigner but I think you need a new President.
47
If not, can I come and live with you, please?
12
@K. OBrien You nailed in K. and we are going to do our best in 11/2020 to rid our nation and the world of this abhorrent con man.
3
@K. OBrien
We're trying.
(Raptors, yes!)
1
Sure, “absolutely” he would listen and then, perhaps, he would contact the FBI or the AG. Sure, I trust him.
Trump the Liar reigns!
9
Sounds like the behavior of a cheating spouse.
Oh, wait...
21
@kurt. Remember: Trump WAS a cheating spouse x 3.
If ALL the headlines aren’t about him, he probably feels like he’s not doing his job. He loves the attention and controversy, but in reality, he’s the type that also feels that he doesn’t need help. He’s just stirring things up I feel.
This has moved past Trump alone. The Republican party has been and continues to show it no longer supports our laws or the Constitution. Republicans show time and again they have no use for our laws unless it assists them in maintaining power and control. Republicans have no interest in maintaining our social safety net of Social Security or Medicare. If they could simply buy our government and throw it away - they surely would!
How sad it is where we find our country. After the revolution, when the King of England was told that George Washington would gladly relinquish power after his second term as President stated Washington was the greatest man in the world.
If he voters of this republic fail to reject this President and renounce his party with major losses in 2020, we may very well find ourselves needing to fight for our nation of laws. The Senate Republicans and Trump must be voted out of office. They have learned nothing and will learn nothing if they retain power.
22
Trump has stated that of course he would contact the FBI. Okay. The Mueller report states the attempts by Putin to interfere with our election, right? You would think the American loving president who claims that he would definitely call the FBI and the minority leader McCarthy has stated that Trump will do the right thing always, right? Well you would think that the head of a campaign for President would after learning of his son's meeting with the Russians along with the more than 100 meetings by his campaign staff would be knocking down the door at the FBI to inform them of the more than a hundred attempts by the Russians to contact or meet with his staff. You would think that he would have done it 3 years ago during the election. You would think that he would have explained to junior that the meeting was a no go and a bad idea. He would have instructed his son to immediately contact the FBI, right? All this should have been done 3 years ago if he is truly telling the truth that he would contact the FBI The reality is is lying that he would of course call the FBI. He did not notify the FBI. He did not agree to talk to the FBI or Mueller's team about Russian contacts. And finally, he has not as of today, he still has not called the FBI about the hundred plus contacts by the Russians despite being informed during the campaign of the Russian attempts to interfere with our elections and the results of Mueller's investigation. What is the hold up Donald?
7
The first time he opened the door to "op research" as acceptable, every country in the world took note. Our elections are officially open to foreign interference at Trump's welcoming invitation. His subsequent clarification rang insincere and meant nothing. The upcoming 2020 elections have been prematurely damaged and subject to being compromised and illegitimate before they even get underway. Were his words representative of a patriot who believes in the integrity of our long held democratic tenet of free and fair elections? Impeachment has been far too long delayed. It cannot wait until 2020 unless we are prepared to investigate other adversaries' possible influences for another 4 years.
6
Why didn't McConnell and his GOP Senate codify what they said should happen when a foreign power attempts to interfere in our elections? There can be no good reason.
They need to be voted out. They are a danger to the American democratic republic.
23
As people grow up they have experiences which lead to develop a core set of values to live by. These values can help you address life’s different situations.
Trump has never developed any of those values.
16
Why didn't McConnell and his GOP Senate codify what they said should happen when a foreign power attempts to interfere in our elections? There can be no good reason.
They need to be voted out. They are a danger to the American democratic republic.
5
Every Trump apologist and sycophant, especially those who know what they are doing is a lie, needs to appreciate that the man who one day says one idiotic--and unpatriotic--thing to a journalist and the next day denies ever saying it (shades of the post-Helsinki revision of Trump's simpering remarks about Putin and Russian interference)is the same man who makes life and death decisions about military commitments, who negotiates with foreign adversaries and allies and when a real crisis occurs will need to rely on public trust. Some day, when Trump is out of the WH, some of these people will write books. How can they be candid about what they saw without acknowledging how they facilitated it all.
7
Dear Lord. We mustn't get used to this.
Really. We mustn't.
A verse of Scripture comes to mind; "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
In the case of our President, this is "gospel truth." The man has a pipeline running from the heart and mind to the mouth and those ten busy fingers. You see what's there. No secrets. No dissimulation.
And this I would add: no hypocrisy. Not even the barest, most cursory attempt to LOOK virtuous. To SOUND like a man of honor and probity--
--except this latest.
"Oh yes, sir! Yes indeedy! I would HIGHTAIL it, sir, right over to the nearest FBI office--shaking with suppressed rage that a foreign power, ANY foreign power, should presume to reach out to me a surreptitious helping hand--my goodness! how I would RECOIL from such a wicked, such a dishonorable suggestion--"
Who believes this, Mr. Schmidt? Does even Mr. Trump's notorious "base" believe a word of it? I am inferring, of course--they simply don't care. Doubtless, when they get together--
--and who knows? If ever the man they adore, the man who--if he SHOT some other man dead on Fifth Avenue--could STILL rest assured of their continuing adulation--
--if Mr. Trump himself ever joined them, that whole mob might dissolve in raucous laughter;
"ME? Visit the FBI? Are you KIDDING me?"
It's the Billy Bush tape all over again. The spontaneous, unexpurgated Trump--
--that's the REAL Trump.
The rest is eyewash.
14
Why even try to make sense of this theater of the absurd. It is hurting our country.
14
I've come to despise Always Trumpers.
24
Take is from Trump he would "absolutely" report it, unless, you know, he wouldn't.
16
Trump lies. The law, morality, decency, and patriotism are meaningless to him. All that matters to Trump is personal gain.
16
Thank God Lucky Luciano, Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel are all dead. If any one of them were still alive, they'd be living the good life in Washington DC right now.
Amazing. Just amazing. (How on earth did it happen this way?)
13
And they used to call Bill Clinton "slippery" because of some long-ago flip-flopping?!
19
It is all meaningless words to Trump.
5
"He 'absolutely' would report it"?! No! He did NOT say that!
He said:
"Of course you have to look at it because if you don't look at it you're not gonna know if it's bad. How are you gonna know if it's bad? But of course, you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that."
5
A 70 year old man who lies all the time demonstrates he has just learned to lie.
So, the Presidents a proven liar and/or he’ll say whatever he thinks regardless whether it’s true or whether he previously said just the opposite. Bottom line, his words are worthless in determining what he’ll say or do. So, just because he contradicted himself about reporting foreign attempts to influence elections OR what he claims he did or did not tell his lawyer, its worthless in determining the truth
5
It's time to recycle this line from the film "Lawrence of Arabia":
Mr. Dryden:
"A man who tells lies, like me, merely hides the truth. But a man who tells half-lies has forgotten where he put it".
Also from "Seinfeld":
George Costanza: "Jerry, just remember, it's not a lie if you believe it."
It seems that Trump can say one thing, its polar opposite, and something in the middle. I doubt he has any idea which of the three is the truth or even if there is such a thing as the truth.
10
True colors were already shown. His basic instinct is fundamentally morally bankrupt without an ability to see right from wrong.
22
This is what we get for having an individual with no core values sitting in the highest office in the land. It's absolutely mind-boggling.
39
In the original interview he snorted at the idea of informing the FBI. His exact words were "Give me a break." But, as usual, he spoke without considering the implications of what he was saying. I bet explaining to him why he was wrong was a painful conversation for someone.
14
The smart thing would be to ask Trump nothing that he can lie in response to. Eventually he’ll train us to the truth.
1
I’m not sure what you mean.
Uh-huh, right. So, which one of these answers is his real opinion--the one he gave while he was just letting his mouth run, or the one he gave after everyone freaked out and told him that was unacceptable? Rhetorical question.
13
Orwell called it doublespeak. Republicans still have time to give up before total political suicide. The legal rapture will still end with a whimper.
20
Trump is clearly in a Conflict of Interests situation having been a recipient of Foreign Monies which his own family has openly admitted receiving said monies .
13
Trump is very close to inadvertently admitting that he knowingly committed a crime in 2016. The 140 contacts of course could not have been coincidentally since everyone involved lied about them.
Trump may have memory problems. He may very well start saying, "The reason I was happy to accept Russia's help..." or "Of course I did!"
With no moral compass or concern for the law, casually saying he broke the law and anyone would do it is close at hand.
Then what will the Republicans do? There are only so many ways you can keep covering up the truth of what happened and is sitll happening in America's elections.
13
When did the tag of "flip flop" no longer become a pariah in our political world? It used to be going back and forth in a politician was a career ender, now it is just assumed action for trumpy. All he projects is weakness and corruption.
16
“But of course you do that. You couldn’t have that happen with our country.”
It has already happened with our country in HIS campaign in 2016. All he is saying now is he would review it and then, if he felt like it, contact the FBI, or whoever.
11
Nothing Trump does is in service of America, he serves only himself. Further, he lacks the ability or desire to tell the truth. I am amazed every day by the empty headed supporters who flock around him and condone his behavior. Our country will survive Trump but the stain he will leave on our nation will take generations to heal....and frankly may never be totally erased. What I most deplore is that he has taken away the pride I once had for our country, on this flag day I fly no flag, thanks to our liar in chief.
18
As with exams, the first answer is usually the correct one.
16
He didn’t “appear” to walk it back. He walked it back.
9
He did it once, he'll do it again.
11
Don't like what the president says? Wait 5 minutes and that'll change (goes for you like it as well, that the only constancy!)
9
Oops!
So a bank has been robbed and there is this guy who is a suspect, but he denies it, and the evidence is still just circumstantial, does not quite get him red handed even though all his bodies were there. Then he comes out and says, "But, by the way, I think robbing banks is perfectly OK." Um...
15
Trump says he wouldn't accept foreigners' contributions to his campaigns.
Trump previously said he would do so.
Should we believe the liar's initial remark on the subject, or his latest?
We already know what he would do, because the situation is not hypothetical.
12
We can certainly trust him on this .. after all, Trump did report all 272 contacts between his team and Russia-linked operatives, and all 38 meetings .. right? Also, all 33 high-ranking campaign officials and Trump advisers that were aware of contacts with Russia-linked operatives during the campaign and transition, including Trump himself ... reported these to the proper authorities, right?
Honest people don't hide their deeds .. Emily Bronte
12
The only thing that will solve our political problems is term limits. Nothing is more important to politicians than getting re-elected, nothing. If they do not get re-elected they might have to go out and find a real, actual job.
8
@William Robards, psssst, that’s why there’s no more Obama and we got Trump instead. Wise solution.
1
That’s why they have to make lots and lots of money while they’re still president so when they leave office they don’t have to worry about having enough.
Apparently one of his lawyers informed him of the illegality of his intentions not to report offers of help from foreign governments and to welcome their help to keep him in power.
Putin won the last election. Will he decide to keep Trump or does he have someone else in mind? He could pull the plug on DJT anytime he wants and expose him as the fraud he is. It wasn't 'the dirt' that he had on Clinton that spoiled her chances. It was all the invented toxic messaging flooding the media and social media. Will that work as well this time?
Propaganda works. Negative campaigns ruin good reputations and deny us their experience and service. A dirty win is still and win but at what price to the country.
14
Mister Trump gets caught with both hands in the cookie jar and answers with a who me.
The mild rebuke from Republicans who then linked the Steele report to trump's sins is an embarrassment to any ideals of patriotism, ethics and just good common sense they should hold. I'd be embarrassed for these politicians but I'm more embarrassed by Trump as president of our country.
VOTE!
9
When will you stop nitpicking every moment of this bountiful administration to death? You cannot out-guess President Trump, you cannot out-impress his electorate (or this re-electorate), and at every picayunish, juvenile step along the way, your actions are merely cementing his second term. How badly - truly - do you want to lose in 2020?
3
What in the name of Truth are you talking about? If you're voting out of Spite, you might be doing it 'Wrong'.
10
Inviting foreign governments to interfere in our elections...so picayune!
10
@JBC
Bountiful?? For the rich only. Are you making more money than you did under Obama? I'm not.
9
"He shot back angrily, however, at Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said on Thursday that the president’s willingness to take foreign help to win an election demonstrated “that he does not know right from wrong” and that “he’s been involved in a criminal cover-up.”"
Well, he said it, and she's absolutely right on both fronts.
As for "revising" his statement, in cases like this you don't get "do-overs". You made your bed, now lie in it. We have the videotape and you looked pretty sure of your position.
This man is stark staring raving mad. Correction: he's stark staring raving mad, and the most dangerous and corrupt president in US history.
70
The nonsense has served its purpose. It took headlines away from more important negative reporting about real disasters of the current "administration."
This article should have appeared on page ten.
4
@Al Luongo - agree that this article should have been on page ten. What should remain front and centre is that your President just invited foreign interference in the upcoming election, thinks it's no big deal, just "oppo" research ya know, anybody and everybody would do the same thing. Oh, and his FBI Director is flat out wrong for saying it should be reported to them.
Wow!
5
As far as I'm concerned his comments pretty much prove his complicity with Russia in 2016, and he will do it again.
51
The rule of law is dead in the executive branch (and the Senate)
38
"Mr. Trump should worry that Americans will stop believing anything he says." (Wall Street Journal, May 2018) (!) Also, isn't he supposed to beep when he backs up?
15
Who can believe anything the man says? He's totally amoral and will say anything to achieve his objectives, which is why he has a bromance with Putin.
25
And this man is still the one who leads this country?
19
My guess is even his overseers at the Kremlin were surprised and told him to dial it back! Talk about buyer's remorse, even Putin couldn't have known how over done Trump's act would be! Eye-popping, head-spinning, and beyond anyone's imagination!
14
I don't know why we are even talking about this. Nothing that man says ever means anything. Nothing he ever does has any thought behind it. I hope someone in the White House stands between him and catastrophe. I guess the real question is how do you keep a maniac from doing maniac things when he is the highest official in America. He occupies the most powerful position in the world, yet he is utterly lost.
8
Got it. Now when Norway says they have dirt on Kellyanne Conway he will report their attempt to influence him immediately to William Barr.
11
@Robert Roth: She shouldn't wear Trump bumper stickers on the job.
2
@Robert Roth,
The only thing that Kellyanne should report to is jail. There's more than enough violations of the Hatch Act to send Kellyanne on her merry way.
4
Meanwhile, the Democratic leadership shake their heads in disgust, wring their hands, and wonder what could be done about Trump..if only there was something they could do!
5
Oh, Let me guess if another country had damaging information on Trump, I’m sure they would report it right away, except it would be exposed and eventually used against him. Hypocrites.
1
America has a fair amount of damaging information on trump already
8
Trump is working his way up to be the most despicable president ever. The sad thing is he doesn't see it.
10
@Robert Haberman He's not working his way up. He has already arrived. #worstpresidentever
9
The sadder thing is a significant portion of this country see him as their Lord and Savior.
4
Who can believe anything he would say? You would have to be insane to trust him. The world knows.
15
He's lying. Again. The other night he said, on television, that he would listen to a foreign power trying to interfere in our elections—which is AGAINST THE LAWS OF OUR COUNTRY, by the way—and that, IF he thought there was something wrong, he MIGHT report it to the FBI. He said that, and he meant it. Remember what Michael Cohen said about how he says things. He was asking foreign powers to interfere in our elections! Why is this crooked, mobster-like liar still in office?
14
The president’s supporters stood up for his horrific statement yesterday.
Are they going to hit the “undo” button and support him again today?
Sounds like Mister Mxyzptlk
6
Trump, the liar and chief. Your son in law and son and others secretly met with Russians at Trump Tower, then you all lied about it for months until finally you admitted having the meeting. In that meeting Russia made it clear they wanted sanctions be dropped and for that they would help you with election. Trump wins the election BY A HAIR and then months later he dropped a lot of the sanctions without any explanation. That is conspiracy in my book.
13
Nobody believes that Trump would not accept foreign help if offered. His supporters obviously don't care and his detractors know he's a pathological liar who will do anything to gain advantage.
14
this from the party (and lawyer) who brought us the HUAC hearings...
1
Perhaps FEC Chairwoman, Ellen Weintraub"s statement on Twitter helped Trump to change his mind:
Weintraub Tweeted: “I would not have thought that I needed to say this."
“Let me make something 100% clear to the American public and anyone running for public office. It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election. This is not a novel concept.”
Weintraub goes on to warn that anyone thinking of accepting foreign help to win an election will be on the wrong end of a federal investigation.
22
At this point, people believe The Boy Who Cried Wolf over our Disaster in Chief. He’s already exposed his feelings on the issue of foreign interference in our elections - he’s all for it, so long as it benefits him. (McConnell’s views as well.) Sudden attempts to back away, reframe, or obfuscate his position simply wont work at this point. Dethrone Trump - he’s not worthy, and not a King.
6
One morning he admitted Russia helped him win the 2016 election. An hour later he retracted his statement. Over the weekend he said he would accept dirt on an opponent from a foreign power. Friday he retracts his statement. Is this the behavior of a person who's fit to be president? No. And Republicans remain mute. The only word that comes to mind is 'disgusting'.
25
Only a fool would take seriously anything Trump says. It's all just 'patter', like a magician uses to distract the audience while he quickly reshuffles the cards or palms the coin.
The entertainment value of The Trump Show is wearing very thin lately. Trump made a nice score on the hotel in DC, the Chinese trademarks, the New York condos, and probably a lot of other goodies we'll never find out; but he's running out new accomplishments to boast about or enemies to complain about. If a shooting war starts someplace and our soldiers start dying, there are going to be a lot more hard questions asked.
People are starting to look at him funny when he says 'lock them up'. They're starting to get wise to his bluffs, and even the most starstruck Trumpers are starting to catch on to the con. Thirty months is a long time to keep even the 'uneducated' mesmerized - even the best can improvise for only so long.
And his health may be failing. Notice how slowly he walks, careful steps, weight shift, no talking while walking. He's too far overweight. Maybe he's getting the chest pains, those little taps on the shoulder you can't ignore. He knows he bit off way more than he could chew, and now the pressure is starting to take its toll.
Maybe his daughter can persuade him to exit gracefully, take the money and run while he still can. There's no profit for a tired old blowhard in dying by a heart attack, even if he is 'president'.
9
Trump saying he would "take" information from a foreign agent suggests that he didn't think it was wrong and/or illegal. Does anyone else think that his attitude explains his shtick about the investigation into Russian meddling? Of course, if he believes that such a response is fine and "everybody" does it, he couldn't imagine that such an investigation could be justified.
6
A person’s “free speech” is not abridged when a job requires one to hold one’s tongue on certain issues.
If we prevent people from talking about top security issues, is that taking away their free speech? No.
Restraining them from using high public office for purposes of electioneering is not an abridgment of free speech, but maybe that’s too complicated for Mr. Orange to understand.
0r his base ....
3
Well.... the contents of the Steele dossier (compiled by a foreign national) were made public, don't know if the Clinton campaign reported it to the FBI or the AG. But...Steele was paid for his efforts. Fair being fair gang, Don Jr. didn't grab at what the Russkies were peddling, but for my two cents I think the Russkies were just doing it to see if the Trumps would stamp the ticket, and they dint. You can't go waving your hands re the Russkies' clumsy get-moose-and-squirrel social media postings and not mention the Steele dossier. I think Trump is just waiting for this media wave to crest in a frenzied froth before he stops and says "Hey... the Steele dossier? Remember that one, folks?"
@Cletus Butzin, Steele himself contacted the FBI. Not close to being the same scenario and those who try to make then out to be similar situation are missing the mark hugely. Steele was hired by an American company who’s job it was to get information on one’s opponent. It wasn’t an adversarial country trying to disrupt our election. Of course, if you listen to Grassley and McConnell and Graham, they’ve done their best to make it sound like they are identical situations.
11
@Kathy Garland, I quote you: "Steele was hired by an American company who’s job it was to get information on one’s opponent. " The smoking gun. It's even worse! The American company paid someone (ultimately on behalf of the Clinton campaign) with clandestine service experience from a foreign nation to do the very thing that amateurish (if you look at the actual material) Russians tried to do probably just for a laugh. Here I am defending Trump and I'm technically a liberal, though these days I like to make the distinction that I am a principled liberal... not a fashionable one.
One morning he admitted Russia helped him win the 2016 election. An hour later he retracted his statement. Over the weekend he said he would accept dirt on an opponent from a foreign power. Friday he retracts his statement. Is this the behavior of a person who's fit to be president? No. And Republicans remain mute. The only word that comes to mind is 'disgusting'.
3
The word that comes to my mind is incompetent.
1
@muslit
The word that comes to my mind is "Republican".
At the risk of sounding redundant, EVERYTHING trump says needs someone else to explain or spin it (if you prefer).
He just says stuff that essentially makes not sense waiting to see if there will be a 'reaction'. Then "ha ha ha, I was just kidding", or the 'fake media' is reporting fake news again', or "I did not say that' regardless if there is video of him saying it or not.
My point is simply this. Trump says whatever he wants leaving the country to try an figure it out for ourselves. This is the height of disrespect to you and to to me.
Where there is NO truth there is NO trust.
7
Same pattern every day.
Shoots from the hip, right from his brain. Realizes that while he meant what he said, he should've never said it.
Backtracks with lies, lies that cherry pick a tiny portion of what he said. Calls any accurate reporting Fake News, tells more lies about his lies.
And his supporters nod mindlessly in agreement. The Trump base loves the lies.
12
He's also going to take an oath and is not afraid to answer answer any questions Mueller may put to him.
He didn't.
He's also said he would "absolutely release his tax returns.
He won't.
He also claimed that China is going to pay the U.S. “billions and billions of dollars” in tariffs,
What a moron.
He claimed his campaign was "self-funding" and not dependent on big donations....
... it wasn't, and guess what -- it still isn't.
He recently claimed that there were no protests going on in England when he was there. That reports were being made about protests to "make him look bad."
I hate to break it to you Donald, but the reason you lost the election by a 9-to-1 margin in the 5 boroughs of your home state is that YOU HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED BAD.
He also promised millions to charity.
Apparently what he meant was that his (self-enriching) Trump Charity would promise him a tidy profit.
He also claimed "We are building that wall."
Fortunately, he's not building anything but an imaginary wall, around his bizarre combover. (Note: it breaks down when it's windy.)
32
Of course Trump would accept foreign help in the 2020 campaign. He accepted in during the 2016 campaign and got away with it. What would stop him this time?
28
I do not believe that this is not really "backtracking." Mr. Trump is impetuous and probably recoiled at the idea that his private conversations with foreign leaders -- at which all manner of topics are discussed, including personal matters -- had to be reviewed by US law enforcement.
Last night someone patiently explained to him the difference between his private conversations and receiving "dirt" on another candidate for a hostile intelligence service, for example.
Now he understands. Cut him some slack. He's not the genius he claims to be, that's for sure.
2
“Cut him some slack.”
Under what circumstance would demand discipline?
2
@Frank J Haydn “cut him some slack”....really?! This isn’t rocket science! You either know right from wrong and have a moral code, or you don’t! And he most certainly doesn’t!
2
Why does Trump insist on writing the Democrat's negative campaign ads for them? Can you just imagine the collage of quotes and tweets that literally scream: "Donald J. Trump is obviously unfit to be president".
5
I'm sure Republicans would have forgiven President Obama if he had acted similarly.
They just couldn't stand that tan suit of his. That was beyond the fashion pale and was inexcusable; lines must, after all, be drawn somewhere.
So let's put all this behind us and talk about more tariffs and tax cuts for those paying the lion's share of our taxes, corporations, oh, no, I mean, patriotic investors and job creators.
9
Trump meant what he said and denial in retrospect is empty of any truth as usual. If Trump ever learns to consider his words before speaking, he could possibly avoid corrupting our trust.
6
Trump said exactly what he meant the first time: "I'd take the info. Who calls the FBI? FBI Director is wrong." He's walking it back now only because he was getting push back from Fox News. Trump will gladly accept info from foreign governments and has given the ok for any and all to interfere with our election. It is beyond outrageous!
17
Whenever the topic of what Trump did today comes up in our house, my wife's response is: "I don't believe a thing he says."
That about sums it up.
12
Russia and North Korea now know to win over Trump they have to use their impressive cyber capabilities to help him in 2020. Of course Trump denies having said what he said as usual but it is clear Trump has no morals and will do whatever it takes to keep his office and thus avoid criminal prosecution that could damage his financial empire. If Barr fins out that Putin and Kim were helping to elect Trump he will look the other way and know if Trump loses Barr becomes a nobody again a joke in the legal profession .
5
Lest we forget, this is the same man that’s said before a sizable audience and national televisions cameras “I love Wikileaks”.
12
His first answer is a snapshot of the way his morally bankrupt and depraved mind works. He sees know wrong in any of his actions. It has nothing to do with the power he yields but everything to do with his self image of omnipotency that he has always had. In his mind the world revolves around Donald Trump. Laws that he has no concept of in the first place, do not apply to him. He believes what he says, because anything that comes emanates from his brain and comes out of his must must be true. He never lies, at least that is what he truly believes.
That a man such as this could talk his way into the White House boggles the normal mind. Are we such as depraved society that this is what we crave? Are we so enamored of Reality TV that we buy into the unscripted nonsense of his clown act and his tweets?
Even when the facts are put forward the obfuscation and manipulation of the truth clouds the minds of the people who want to believe that the man they have voted for is working in their best interest.
Well, he is not. He is a self serving scoundrel of the lowest order who has done inestimable damage to our country in order to enrich himself and his family. He has ignored every rule of law and mocked the Constitution.
The threat to our security is real. He has signaled, once again, to our enemies that his campaign can be bought, and he along with it.
The time for considering impeachment has passe. It is now time to act before it is too late. He needs to go... NOW.
11
Imagine if the elected Clinton said it. I can't stand it..my ears hurt from all the screaming! And if she did half the things Trump has done, with the Republicans in control of Congress, she'd be gone. Republicans...they're patriots for their side. Trump...an ongoing "patriot pass." Hollow, hollow Politics.
5
How much would it cost to turn the oval office into a padded room? No matter. It would be a bargain at any price. But then there are the MAGAs. Padded hazmat suits?
6
The question isn't what Trump says.
What a chronic liar says is meaningless. Period.
Democrats (and Republicans who are not enablers) should focus on the facts in cities, states, the nation and the world. Trying to divine what Trump "means" gives him and his words authority they don't deserve.
7
@C: The facts are on Reality TV. By the way, Kim Kardashian is a dead-ringer for Cleopatra.
During Trump's first year in office, he used to drive me crazy with this kind of serial fabrication - where the guy simply made stuff up out of thin air or contradicted himself within the same sentence with more crazy lies. Now I'm numb to it. I'm numb to crazy as our new norm. This most miserable of human beings, this most incompetent partisan in memory, says and does something seemingly every day to further damage our republic and our global standing. This national misery needs to end.
6
Trump tells more lies than truths. Let's hope he wasn't serious about Scaramucci, though. I would love to see him back in this adminsitration!
3
Typical wink-nod procedure from this president, and the Republican Party in general. Say one thing, then backtrack, but by that time, you've let everyone know what you really think. Republicans were the same with birthirism.
The man has no principles. He'd sell out God, country and his own family if he thought he could get away with it.
Our adversaries are certainly looking for ways to wheedle their way into positions of influence with this man.
5
i.e. he would handle such goings-on by the book...
Just like his predecessor did...
Where was the scandal? Where were the mutiple investigations? When did you the last administration set out to sell America to the highest bidder?
Is that how he made it through college?
Oh, and as I recall, Trump demanded to see Obama's grades in college. When Trump's college performance was questioned, he threatened punishment on his alma mater if his grades ever got released.
Heck, seeing as he didn't know Wales from whales, he better also threaten him elementary school from releasing his grades.
8
Trump’s statement is not only treasonous it is ( unsurprisingly) foolish. He assumes that the "dirt" offered by a foreign power would necessarily benefit him. There are many strategies that a foreign power (say Russia) might use to advance their interests at the expense of the U.S. Russia could provide "dirt" on both parties to sow further division in the U.S. or purposely get caught providing damaging information to a party with the goal of damaging that same party. China may be very happy to see Tariff Man gone.Iran certainly doesn't care for Trump and may decide to invest in offering "dirt" to have him lose
5
I've been wondering. Lets say Trump doesn't win this fall. Given the lies and what he's done already, what do you think he will do as a lame duck with McConnell to support him on the way out? Assuming he agrees to go, that is.
5
Well, we all know that this is not what he originally said. Is it simply ignorance of our nation's laws or arrogance that they do not apply to him? Either is just as bad as the other considering he is POTUS.
1
"Liberalism is, I think, resurgent. One reason is that more and more people are now so painfully aware of the alternative."
– John Kenneth Galbraith
22
@Jbugko,
JKG as of 1960?
.
http://tinyurl.com/2437ol8 . WashPost 10/2010
.
“The far right Swedish Democrats were elected…
.
“In Austria the far right Freedom Party made massive gains in regional elections after an anti-immigrant campaign…
.
“In Denmark, Norway and Finland, rightist and nationalist parties have expanded their power in recent months”
.
‘The far right, anti-Islam Danish People's Party came first in that country's elections.’
.
x
.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/07/world/europe/ruling-party-in-slovakia-loses-majority-in-elections.html?_r=0
.
Striking gains for the anti-immigrant rightists in Slovakian parliamentary elections;
.
I'm not a lawyer, but Trump's original answer, which was not negated by his clarification, established, prima fascia, a conspiracy to violate US law. In his executive position does that not now make Trump a co-conspirator at least, possibly the lead conspirator of any violation of this law by anyone in the US from now therough the next election? See 18 U.S.C. § 371 and Hammerschmidt v. United States, 1924. The opinion in this decisive case was written by Chief Justice William Howard Taft, the only Supreme Court Justice who had previously been US President. After all the investigation and Mueller's actual findings can any Federal official credibly claim confusion? As the FEC chair pointed out, it seems odd to have to state this, and odd to accept any reluctance to begin impeachment proceedings immediately. The President has indicated he would listen and possibly report to the FBI if the info was suspect, but the law clearly prohibits acceptance of any information. If approached by any foreign person or interest nothing may be received. After refusing the offer, any American has a duty to immediately report the offer to the FBI to protect themselves, the election staff, our government and all Americans. Trump's oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" is a serious and unambiguous promise that is not open to debate or "renegotiation." The law enforces our founding belief that only Americans decide what is in our own best interest.
45
Sadly the statement by itself is not enough for a prima facie conspiracy charge.. must be a discrete action in furtherance of a crime. Frankly I would have said the Trump Tower meeting met that burden even though Mueller in effect said Don Jr et al would have to have known that receiving dirt from a foreign government was illegal. (My response would have been that senior Campaign Executives, eg the Chairman, should have knowledge of election law and check anything remotely questionable). ( I am an attorney)
8
President Trump is Pinocchio, doing whatever is politically expedient; whatever benefits him and his interests.
He says he still would listen to a foreign government or its representative sharing "oppo" research on a presidential opponent. Listening is the same thing as receiving something of value...a crime.
Why should we ever believe Trump? The Washington Post says he's lied over 10,000 times since taking office. He might change his position again...due to whatever he thinks, whatever his whim is.
30
Trump made that statement on Fox News so he can say all the other media lied about what he said.
I've gotten to the point that when someone tells me they still support Trump I consider them as self-delusional as he is, and I don't like them for it.
46
The problem is not simply that the President of the United States is a vile, sociopathic liar. That's just too easy. It is that the party of which he is the head is composed of people who fundamentally do not care about the rule of law. The Republican party started down this slope during the Nixon administration, when Nixon and Agnew had the unwavering support of the party even when it was obvious that crimes had been committed. Things dramatically worsened under the reign of Gingrich, when all the norms that had made compromise and bipartisanship possible were jettisoned. Now in the McConnell era, the Republican party is about nothing except naked abuse of power, contempt for those who believe in rules, and gleeful willingness to embrace those who openly break the law.
Organize, donate, volunteer and then vote Democratic in 2020. It's only our republic if we work to keep it.
48
And we're supposed to believe that? It's already common knowledge by now that Donald Trump blurts out the first thing that comes into his mind then walks it back a minute later after it lands with a thud.
16
Our President, his Administration and Mitch McConnell consistently show their contempt for truth, laws or logic. Rather than reporting on their comments and trying to find some kind of justifiable rationale for the collective incoherence, it is time to stop reporting on every statement and simply focus on the contradictions as well as every specific statement that violates a law or established precedent. Otherwise we continue to be mired in the repetitive disinformation that creates a fog to hid the depth of the deceit and criminal activity occurring right in front of us every day. Give us bullet points and facts, skip their subterfuge please!
18
The more treasonous and dishonest this man's behavior becomes the more difficult the distinction between support and complicity becomes. He is most definitely deserving of prosecution and swift punitive action when found guilty. The question that I am left with is, at this point, is voting for this man an act of treason in itself?
17
IMHO, this is where news organizations fail us in not describing this president and his actions.
But the president saw it differently, saying that Ms. Conway was entitled to express her opinion, even using her taxpayer-paid White House position. “It looks to me like they’re trying to take away her right of free speech,” he said.
Perhaps the article could have gone to say ‘The president again misinterpreted the first amendment, and what freedom of speech entails...’
26
Only in a banana republic, ably assisted by GOP congressmen -women, would a president say, "Of course you give it to the FBI...." after saying just a few news cycles ago that "...that just doesn't happen in life." Our credibility on the world stage has taken hits like this before but only DJT does it on a regular basis, seriously undermining our basic understanding of law and order (btw, one of his signature boasts). I'm really wondering how GOP representatives sleep at night knowing they are allowing our standing in the world sink to such low standards because of the low bar Trump continuously falls under.
11
The alarming truth is that the man is completely out of control.
23
It's time for Americans to give up. The rich own our lives, and there is nothing you or I can do. I know it's not American to give up, but we already did when we allowed rich people to become even richer. There is no stopping that any more. They own us like slaves, and we can only accept it until we die.
9
Trump's hypocrisy here is that the Steele document is an outrage to him. He was "spied" upon and wants to investigate the investigators. When the intel is on him, then, it is a different matter from a situation when he benefits from foreign sourced information.
8
So much for the Rule of Law; how can any U.S. Attorney, in good conscience, prosecute a U.S. citizen who uses the same excuses Trump uses?
12
If he does report it, it won't be to the FBI. It will be to the man who shines his shoes, William Barr. And Barr will most certainly hide it from any prying eyes.
18
This episode leaves no doubt that Trump and his inner circle worked with Russian agents to influence the 2016 elections. It also shows how truly moronic he is, not understanding that he was justifying collusion on the air. It was the same in the Lester Holt interview, when Trump said it was that “Russia thing” that caused him to fire Comey. After he says it, it becomes “fake news.” And propagandists at Fox are only too happy to help him put a new spin on a story.
15
President Trump and his Republican gang should have to carry the burden and consequences of this manufactured crisis.
7
Another of the more than 10,000 lies. The worst part is that his enablers and supporters are lying so deeply to themselves.
Trump is absolutely THE ENEMY. I will never waver or lie about that.
25
Run the original statement in some of the ads showcasing his corruption.
He is trying to create his own fake news again.
12
Not just Trump, his supporters too need a fig leaf to hide. So these fake denials offer the fake fig leaf behind which Trump and his supporters can hide.
3
Why would anyone think he would tell the truth about anything, at any time?
10
Doesn't matter what he says. One day it's this, the next day it's that. Not a serious man, not to be taken seriously. in 18 months we'll kick him to the curb. Even THAT is too good a place for him.
6
The entire world knows that he's lying again, or is it still? A perfect example of why no one, under any circumstances should believe anything he says. Ever.
6
No thought or comment from this man have the validity of being the truth. To him the line between the truth and falsehood is not just blurred, it does not exist. It's all one territory: whatever benefits him!
7
The day DJT shoots someone on 5th Avenue, denies it, then admits it but says it was no big deal and the members of his party and political base agree with him, the Republic will be over. Until then, it's just another day in the White House.
3
Trump: I didn't say that.
Just watch the video clip.
Well OK, I was misquoted.
The "Fake News" is trying to make it seem like what I said was what I meant.
9
It's just endless smoke and mirrors on everything Trump says to either conceal his ignorance or conceal his deceptions.
He publicly plays to his viewing audience known as "The Base" and little do they understand that his "facts" are baseless.
They will tune in to Fox News and nod in agreement that Trump didn't actually say what we all heard him say.
4
I am no longer surprised by anything that comes out of President Trump's mouth.
The real entertainment is watching Fox News and the Republicans try to blame the Democrats for Trump's immature, uneducated behavior.
Like Lindsay Graham, who went off on the Democrats over the Steel report.
Hey Lindsay-the Dems did not expose the Steel Report, leading to the FISA Court warrant-John McCain, with your encouragement, exposed it. Hillary's campaign refused to use it.
10
chief commander of lies, chief commander of cheating and deceiving, chief commander of womanizing, chief commander of obstruction of justice, and now chief of flip-flop. we (americans) made him all of the above. the more we see him as president the more will be revealing.
do we need a solution of this cicus immediately or stay with him another term? it is so simple to get rid of this circus if GOP leaders play by the book of law for the sake of the country without their self interests. instead, they are playing with fire day by day to see the climax of the mockery. at the end, it may not be that pleasant for all especially the senate leader. lindsey graham, ted cruz, etc.
2
" It's not illegal, when the President does it. "
Deja Vu, all over again.
6
"Absolutely"?! How about Jr.'s meeting with the Russians?! How about the 140+ Russian contacts with his campaign?! How about his views that he expressed to ABC, just. This. Week?!
As my Dad would have said, "Absolutely", my eye!
2
Are you going to believe me or your lyin' eyes and ears, Trump asks the Nation. As we know many will believe him and apologize and redefine and make excuses so it fits today's narrative.
George Orwell is so vindicated.
Sadly.
6
Of course, he received, through his son, an offer of derogatory information from a foreign government regarding his opponent in 2016 and not only didn't report it but rather he issued a false and misleading statement to try to cover it up.
6
Trump is testing Congress just like toddlers test their parents.
It's time for the Congressional parents to show this toddler President that he can't do whatever he wants.
Like a petulant toddler, Trump's behavior will only worsen unless something is done to stop it. (And he seems to be quickly moving into autocrat territory.)
2
We should've taken far more stock when Trump publicly encouraged Russia (and WikiLeaks, for that matter) to dig up dirt on HRC.
6
@Ponsobny Britt
Those of us here in New York City tried to warn America what would happen with Donald Trump as President.
Nobody listened.
Too late now.
4
trump is in his heart a mobster. He would not call the FBI and did not when he had the opportunity during his campaign. Don’t listen to his words as he appears to lie more than any other living person. Look at his actions and they are criminal.
8
Caught red handed lying by George Stephanopoulos, Trump then reverses course the next day and claims he would do what he is legally obligated to do and inform the F.B.I. if approached by a foreign power with inside intel on the opposition. Here you have a person who believes he is ABOVE the law. Trump has been getting away with this his entire life. No one, and I mean no one, has ever said NO to the man. Whatever he wants he gets. Let us hope that changes in 2020. DO NOT PROCEED WITH IMPEACHMENT. Vote Trump out of office then let the U.S. District Attorney's office in the southern district of New York put Donald Trump in Rykers for a ten year hitch.
6
Nothing Trump says matters:
Trump always lies.
Trump never keeps a promise.
A foghorn in a mist conveys more reliable information than Donald Trump.
8
As we continue to suffer through the daily outrages from this president and his administration lackeys, I continue to get daily multiple email solicitations from the Democratic Committee and Nancy Pelosi asking for money.
Not one cent more from me until Pelosi, at a minimum, initiates an impeachment inquiry.
Enough is enough!
1
@H Guevara. You're making a mistake. Only by continuously investigating can the Dems get anywhere on Trump. Impeach him, and the Senate will NEVER convict him. then he will be legally innocent, and all investigations will end and there will be NOTHING to hang over his head or stop him from doing whatever he wants, including canceling the 2020 elections. THINK.
4
Sure, Don. Right. We know that what you said first is, of course, the truth. We know what you really think, what “stands” in your world.
And no joke Don would not have ever called the FBI before in his life. For anything. In fact, he has probably quite studiously worked to NEVER call the FBI or any other law enforcement agency. For anything. The truth about so much would have come out and he would have been in an orange suit long ago.
1
Uh-oh, something REALLY spoked Trump. Maybe he realizes that even Republicans have turned against him after his recent outrageous position.
6
Whew, he had me worried for a moment!
I don't want to shock anyone. But he's lying.
10
Believe the first thing he said on the matter, not his reconstruction after the public outrage, when his handlers gave him a new script. He is the consummate liar with minions who believe every word. Sad.
4
As Michelle Goldberg noted, what he's saying is "Try and stop me." And who will?
4
Where is Nancy Pelosi? Trump has admitted taking help from Russia in 2016, and now he's admitted he would do so again in 2020 — never mind whatever stream-of-consciousness is coming out of his mouth today. He has conspired with Russia to commit crimes against the United States, admitting to those crimes publicly. If she doesn't act, he'll be emboldened to do so again, over and over.
Right, so he'd get the info and report it to the FBI or the AG. The use of Opposition Research by the Left is still going on now to overturn the 2016 Election. Remember Clinton paid for the Fake Dossier that detailed howTrump urinated on a bed the Obamas had slept on in Russia. The people who used that Dossier to open FISA warrants to spy on Trump was a known fake and they used it anyway. That Document was written Russian operatives and funneled to MI6.
Letting Wise Guy Stephanopolous into the Oval Office for an Interview was a bad move. He used the same strategy to trap Romney in an interview about Contraception.
The real problem here is the subterfuge that continually churns on the Left.
Trump is obtuse and dangerous. He needs to be gone ASAP!
3
@Amy
Vote! get the millennials to the ballot box.....spend time on real policies to help Americans go forward with decent lives.
I do vote. I also read the Mueller Report. I plan to get directly involved in 2020 elections.
If he was in Batman comics, he would be Two-Face. If he was on SNL, he'd be the Pathological Liar. But he is the real-life President of the United States and his shifting stance on truth is despicable. For real.
This is an example of a true outrage committed by Trump. There are enough real outrages that newspapers like the Times do not need to manufacture false ones that breed mistrust. Trump did not work with Russia in any way for the 2016 election. But he sure is looking for help now.
"Under Fire Trump Says He Would Absolutely" Report Foreign Campaign Help"
...just like he said and did in 2016 campaign rallies, and probably just like he'll do in 2020.
And the Washington Post noted that for the last two years Trump lied 10,000 times.
A leopard can't change its spots!!!
2
Hey, he was just testing the waters yesterday! Very Presidential.
The Federal Election Chairperson "never expect to have to say" that accepting election help from a foreign government was against the law.
Whether or not he tells the FBI or the AG (and he didn't previously "deeds not words") is less relevant that whether he would accept the foreign entity assistance.
Nancy Pelosi is correct, he "doesn't know right from wrong", and he remains stubbornly indifferent to amending that deeply rooted, life long character deficiency.
In the USA arrogance is the best policy?
1
@Wiliam, Yep. Not only does he not know right from wrong, he's not interested in learning the difference. It seems that right for Trump is what he wants, and wrong is anything else.
1
It looks like Trump is hitting his limits more often than he used to. First Republicans shoot down his tariffs on Mexico, and he has to save face by showing us an agreement that was already in place. He tried to make it look like Mexico caved to his threats, when in reality he caved to the GOP. Not long after that, Republicans shot down one of his judicial nominees. They did so because the judge was too liberal, but at least it shows that some independent thought is going on.
Now Trump has to walk back his statement that it's okay for him to commit treason because he's Trump. It certainly isn't disapproval from Democrats that's making him do that. Sure, Republicans wouldn't actually do anything to stop him. But every time they tell him to dial it down a notch, they remind us just how much he needs their approval to govern.
3
I wonder what the statute of limitations is on Hatch Act violations and whether they are strictly civil or possibly criminal?
3
If ever their was a classic case of Doublethink, Trump presented it here in the past two days. One day he pronounces one thing, the next day a contradiction to it, so that no objective truth can be discerned from either statement, because both must be thought of as simultaneously true. The reason? So that he can control the narrative and tell us what the truth is- it’s whatever he says it is. And examine the other Trump stories today: they all follow the exact same pattern. In the end, Winston Smith learned to love Big Brother, and so will we.
2
I’m enjoying the wait, as Trump and Trumpists and Sean Hannity figure out some way to argue that this massive crawfish is not a massive crawfish, but a heroic assertion of principle from a heroic man of the people whose every waking thought is one of heroic service to the People.
6
@Robert
And I'm enjoying your posts...keep it up!
This President is a threat to National Security. He hasn't the intellectual capacity or the understanding of diplomacy, mutual respect or how to make a sound decision and stick with it. With the understanding of mutual mass destruction there is no need to continue War. If nothing else we have invited a military response from the Middle East. It's time to promote educate, promote healthcare (as promised) and show some real plans for rebuilding our country. Conservation and maintaining parks are being ignored . Our military and the contractors have too much influence with the flow of cash over the last fifty years in our government. The air and water are of paramount importance the EPA has been the only thing that has preserved these resources.
1
"Under Fire, Trump Says He Would ‘Absolutely’ Report Foreign Campaign Help"
"Under fire for saying earlier in the week that “I’d take it” and scoffing at the notion that he should call authorities, Mr. Trump shifted by saying that while he would still look at incriminating information provided by a hostile foreign power about an election opponent he would “absolutely” report such an encounter."
It's amazing how 24 hours, even less in many cases, can have Trump changing his tune for public consumption. However, with Trump what he says: "he would “absolutely” report such an encounter."" is absolutely meaningless.
How can we trust Trump when he changes his words at the first sign of a pushback? We can't. It's as simple as that. What Trump says at any moment is not anywhere near the reality of what he would actually do.
4
He would except when he doesn't want to.
How long before he says he never said either?
Or has he already?
This is the man we are supposed to trust in going to war with Iran?
3
The Republican Party, as an institution, is a danger to the rule of law and the integrity of our democracy.
The problem is not just Donald Trump; it’s the larger Republican political apparatus collaborating with him.
10
The House must impeach. The only people worse than Trump are those that assist him and/or let him get away with it. Right now the Democratic House is letting him get away with it.
Have no fear - it's clearly the right thing to do
2
Truth telling is not one of Trump's strengths. If he is caught, he shouts "fake news" and moves on. If this President is not impeachable, and cannot be found guilty of high crimes, no one can. His campaign enlisted Russia to work against his opponent. He did so openly in speeches and at his rallies. He is a law breaker, pure and simple.
3
Figure it out America, he will say whatever serves the sound bite.
It has nothing to do with what he would actually do.
5
Re: "...President Trump on Friday appeared to backtrack somewhat on accepting campaign help from Russia or other foreign governments without necessarily telling the F.B.I., saying that he would certainly inform law enforcement authorities if he were approached..."
D.J. Trump HAS accepted assistance from a foreign country for electoral purposes! Why does anyone think he wouldn't commit to continuing his one successful policy, (using outside electoral_help), in '20, if it got him the presidency in '16?
Regarding Kelley Ann Conway. Trump said: “It looks to me like they’re trying to take away her right of free speech,”
Taking away people's right to free speech. Especially on the job. Isn't that a Trump specialty? Even in the White House as everyone had to sign non-disclosure agreements never mind his businesses or his mistresses. Remember the threats of lawsuits?
Imagine, for a moment, that one of the Trump Organization employees used company property to talk about Donald Trump. What do you believe that Trump would have to say about that?
Trump saying freedom of speech is laughable. For him its only free when it compliments him or hurts those he wants hurt.
2
I think he was more “honest” in the ABC interview. He just heard the bad reaction and suddenly changed his tune. He will use any means he can to stay in the office, even if it means breaking the law. Why not? Nothing has happened to him so far.
4
One of these days Trump may look up at the sky and pronounce it is orange, and not blue. When I watch recent news videos, and see the look in Trump's eyes, I am convinced he believes what he says. Trump’s truth is whatever he wants it to be. He has a mental issue.
This week we witnessed him casually recommend that candidates break campaign laws. This week, he also claimed that a Quinnipiac poll, showing him trailing Biden in Texas, is incorrect; he said that he wants this "untrue" poll retracted. His allies tell us that his actions are more important than his words. But Trump's actions will follow his beliefs. We couldn't trust him as a candidate before he was president. Now this time he is running as president, and ordering which polls are okay to publish.
Trump is unfit for office and it's time to begin impeachment proceedings. He is a national security liability. They say that "power moves to fill a vacuum." Trump is clearly not all "there" mentally. Foreign powers watch our news and know this.
3
Every day as more insanity comes out of this administration, I keep expecting Rod Serling to appear and tell us about next week's episode. But then I quickly realize that this is reality and truth really is stranger than fiction. I just hope that we all remember the past several years when the polls open in November, 2020.
24
@Gerard
Next stop..............Willoughby.
There nightmare has to end eventually. Visualize a future world in which Trump has stopped granting interviews, tweeting, calling his friends @ FOX and speaking beyond maybe "pass the catsup".
9
So he's saying he'd 'absolutely' report it but only if he listened to it? An additional unspoken condition of his would be if he listened to it and it was useless to him. Otherwise,obviously, there's no way he would report it.
15
The old adage is true in regards to Trump, "if his lips are moving..."
2
So, according to our man-child president, when Speaker Pelosi expresses her opinion she is "a fascist" and "disgrace." When Kelly Conway violates federal law by engaging in partisan politics on the taxpayer's dime, Trump sees her as merely exercising "free speech." This man lacks both decency and dignity.
In addition, the first sentence of the piece asserts that Trump "appeared to backtrack" his previous comments on accepting foreign powers' assistance during an election. Why does the writer, Mr. Baker, use the words "appeared to?" There is no doubt in what he reports that Trump's new talking points are a definite "backtracking" not the appearance of one.
34
I fear President Trump is setting the stage for creating a war with Iran. I believe he would readily start a war for the purpose of winning the 2020 election. He may think people will unite behind him during war time. How can congress make it impossible for him to declare war on Iran?
23
@Thelma McCoy a war with iran would be an incredible disaster and he would not get any traction toward re-election from it.
1
The War Powers Act states that any President has 48 hours to notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into conflict. Without Congressional approval those forces can participate in combat for no more than 60 days. They then have an additional 30 days to withdraw. But alot of damage can be caused in 60 days, even without Congressional approval.
Yesterday Trump said that he would listen to information about a political opponent from anyone, including a hostile foreign power, if it helped his election. He has just been through two years of investigations for the exact same contacts that he is now welcoming, again, in the public eye. When is enough enough for our legislative branch? He's gaslighting all of us, all the time, and Congress refuses to stand up to the abuse of power.
11
Every GOP senator who does not immediately begin an about face and stand up for American ideals and institutions and speak truth to Trump should be voted out 2020 and have a walk of shame as they go back to their districts.
2
Of course he did. And those who elected him think it's just fine.
11
No. He said it. I believed him then when he very deliberately spoke into the microphone, and asked Russia to commit cyber crimes for his benefit. It's too late - Walk back, throw the Queen of England under the bus, and call Fox, in an attempt to sanitize- all irrelevant. Trump said what he meant, and meant what he said. Ergo, "Danger Will Robinson, Danger!"
11
Yeah, right...
I'm curious as to what will be (if ever) the situation or actions taken by the president that will be too much for the GOP in congress and prompt them to start procedures to end his presidency.
Our democracy is being shaken to its core right now and the GOP is watching the train wreck from the side line, sipping margaritas...
5
Trump's ability to openly incriminate himself and get away with it, is unparalleled in the history of American politics. We all witness it, mouth agape by the audacity, we cynically shrug it off as we become worn down by the daily drama, we have a rueful laugh at the painful Greek tragedy of our crumbling Democracy playing out before our eyes, , but nothing, NOTHING is going to change unless we the American people get a SPINE and say this man is a disgrace to the Presidency, unfit to lead our Nation, and incapable of understanding that he is not above the rule Law – and therefore he needs to be removed from office.
We can put our hope in the Media uncovering and reporting the truth from the lies and expose him, like Stephanopoulos just did, but that is only half the battle. Our representatives in house and senate are not going to pursue removing this mob boss from office unless we call them and show our support for Impeachment. Only public pressure will sway the course of History. We have work to do.
16
Bottom line: Trump hasn't and won't lift a finger to protect the 2020 election. And neither will McConnell. They like what Russia did, and they welcome the same type of help again.
30
The first answer was the real one and the subsequent one or ones are the ones he had to say because even people on FOX told him it was illegal and that it showed intent to collude.
10
Is that statement retroactive to 2015-2016?
If not, why should we believe anything trump says?
4
Impeachable offense du jour: Trump isn't enforcing the law, one of the most important duties of the president.
It's difficult to impeach someone who continually commits crimes, but please Speaker Pelosi, this would be a good time to start an inquiry.
14
What Deranged Donnie says is to parrot what the last person to talk to him. That's why he is so inconsistent. Can't think for himself, so he needs some help. What a Boffo to have as the leader of the most powerful nation in the world. Or at least it used to be the most powerful.
4
Nancy Pelosi has already been kind to Donald when she said he did not know right from wrong, she should have called his act treasonous and he is to be prosecuted.
Any American who came upon information from foreign governments about any American should report immediately to FBI or any other security agency so they can determine whether the information concerns our national security.
No waiting, no discount, and of course NO REPORTING...
5
I totally agree with her in what I have witnessed as well. He has no moral or ethical compass at all. He never had to deal with people like us as peers or be held accountable in life.
1
And the Republican leadership wants to be seen standing in support next to this confused bumbler Donald Trump? Have they really no shame whatsoever?
4
There is a saying that goes something like "When Someone shows you who they are, believe them." Trump always shows who he is the first time and when that creates a backlash he presents the other Trump. The not so bad Trump.
He came down the escalator and told us Mexicans were rapists and murderers. In this interview he showed us he is a traitor. Or maybe just a criminal since we are not at war but definitely not a real President. He is unfit for the Presidency and all these things he does are shocking in and of themselves but add up to a very real threat to America.
A President who would say that they would take dirt from a foreign country on their opponent to win an election and that calling law enforcement if it happens isn't how the real world works is a security risk.
Trump showed us who he is the first time. We can't afford to let him have a second chance.
9
How many times has Trump had to walk back some wrongheaded or ignorant remark he has made? I have a feeling he really has no idea what he is doing, what is going to blurt out from one minute to the next, nor does he ever appear to anticipated the consequences of his decisions. So he walks back just about everything he says and does--at least eventually.
Trump may a well start walking backwards, or maybe we can create a special position for him Monty Python style as the head of the Ministry of Silly Walks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoIdEjdZIls
3
When Trump made those unsurprisingly outrageous statements yesterday and then followed up with the absurd papering over comments today, I once again wondered what our children are learning about the presidency and the Constitution. Particularly in trump-loving red states, are future voters being taught that a president is above the law, that only "losers" follow the rules?
5
Teaching greed, malice, hate, predjudice, lying, blaming and shaming are useful tools to navigate with through life. He is teaching them right at this moment laws and decency are irrelevant and an irritation to be trampled and spat on as you matriculate thru life.
This is a man drowning in his own lies frantically flailing around for a life preserver. When he goes down for a third time who will save him?
6
What is our reality? Our president is a man who IS and ISN'T at the same time, all the time. On the other hand everyone alive lives and dies definitively. What does this mean? Who is in charge of this country? Please answer the question!
2
McConnell is. And Mulvaney and several other appointments. If you look at the doers you will see the federalist society and the tea party movement. The tea part is a racist response to Obama. And the federalist society which looks to be filled with neoconservatives who preach libertarian ideals but actually promote imperial presidency, wars and socialism for the rich by flipping the tax structure burden onto the poor.
3
Trump's chief motive for this "dirt" episode is to goad the House into impeaching him. It's a no-lose situation. If he's impeached he knows the Senate will acquit him. If the House fails to impeach him, he get away with it, again.
3
Expecting Trump to understand the significance of his remarks about anything is absurd. He understands nothing. Like a lizard sitting on a rock waiting for a fly, he just reacts. No thought, no understanding, no context, simply a primal reaction.
Please people, vote as if you love your country next time, and not TV.
9
Watching trump, sitting in our Oval Office, explaining how he would take "oppo research" from any OTHER foreign cabal member was like watching an episode from the Godfather.
trump showed the world what a current day Mob Boss looks like as he explains the rules using his "like really smart" "stable genius" logic.
Only yesterday, trump explained how Kellyanne Conway is a Made-Woman with “I’m not gonna fire her...she's terrific!”
trump's statements clearly explain why he could not testify before the Mueller team. trump would have waxed-illiteracy explaining to Mueller how the trump world "really works."
Every time trump tells the truth, his staff intervenes, craft some smarmy statement, and then send trump out to back-peddle.
His interview statements were, effectively, an admission that he knew about and welcomed the offer of Russian help. In fact, his campaign principals knew about and worked the offer of Russian help.
4
It's so nice to have a President who is brutally honest when asked about issues like this one. Every word Trump said in his chat with ABC News made sense & was only reaffirming what we all know & what has been the usual practice in DC at election time going back decades.
DC is full of foreign lobbyists & political activists during election campaigns, full of representatives from many different countries around the globe. Is no campaign team member allowed to converse with these people, after all, one doesn't know what the person they're talking to might suddenly blurt out. Trump said he would listen if someone wanted to tell him 'dirt' on his opponent, well of course he would just like EVERYONE else would. Or is he supposed to immediately cover his ears with his hands & yell no, no, no, I mustn't hear any potential negative info about a political opponent? If he went looking & asking for 'dirt' (like HRC & the DNC did with FusionGPS & C.Steele) then that is altogether different.
If the info Trump was being told by this hypothetical foreign agent was sensitive info or it involved illegal behaviour then of course he should, & I'm sure he would, tell the FBI or such like.
Of course, there is a massive irony here; Hillary & the DNC PAID, through their lawyers (Perkins Coie) a company (FusionGPS) to hire a FOREIGN agent (Steele) to go to his RUSSIAN contacts & get dirt on Trump. There was no dirt so he fabricated it & put together a dossier of dirt on HRC's political opponent.
1
Pssst...this just in.
It is legal for a politician or a political campaign org to spend money on hiring an investigator, or investigatting agency, to run an investigation for them, provided that they declare the expenditure.
It is NOT legal for a politician or a political campaign to TAKE money, or information, or anything else of value from a foreign organization or government, especially when they do not declare the gift.
Hope I cleared this up for you, but I doubt anything can be cleared up for you.
7
@kojak
In case you've forgotten HRC isn't president. And that dossier? It was never used.
2
The law is clear, any offer must be rejected. Previous practice, however you imagine it is immaterial. The President simply reiterated his belief he is above the law. If that works for you, so be it.
5
Let’s get “help” defined before we feel any comfort with Trump’s seeming agreement to contact the FBI.He will contact the FBI when Mexico agrees to pay for the wall.Trump and Bibi Netanyahu both have challenging elections coming up.I suspect they will try to “ help” each other-we need a very explicit definition of “help” -one that even over the top hucksters can understand!
3
If any of the 260,000 employees of the company I work for behaved this way we would be fired for code of
Conduct violation and escorted from the building the same day.
30
America first? His initial response shows the man is for himself first - and only.
9
This is standard Trump technique: say something outrageous, get credit from his diehard supporters for saying it, causing
Fox Noise and others to send up and cheer, and then deny he ever said it or claim that people didn't understand what he meant. Standard, every day stuff, over and over again.
Trump called on the Russians to hack Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign. Words to the effect, "I hope you find those 33,000 deleted emails". Years later, he started claiming he was joking, he didn't really mean it. Yeah? Presidential candidates don't get the opportunity to joke about serious matters unless it is completely obvious to everyone that it is a joke. Again, he takes credit from his supporters and then tries to deny the meaning of his words. He can't be trusted, ever. His words are oily, slippery things that slide out of a mouth not connected to any baseline of integrity.
Maybe the whole thing is a joke? Well, we are years beyond that unfortunate point. This is a deadly serious corruption of American elections which we count on for the legitimacy of democracy and our government. There have been historical examples of corruption of the voting process but never before in our history has a president publicly welcomed and encouraged future corruption. Trump invited the Russians and others, by his words, to have a good run at distorting the 2020 presidential election.
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Trump says he would "absolutely" report attempts by a foreign government to help out his campaign. But he DIDN'T. End of story.
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The Trump presidency will go down in U.S. history as one of our darkest periods ever. Once it was discovered that Russia played a pivotal role in getting Trump "selected", the results should have been dismissed. The simple truth is that, once again, Trump cheated to get what he wanted. That's been the story of his life...And now we all are being forced to live with this living nightmare, this nonsense, on a daily basis.
I suspect that if this next presidential election produces the same result i.e. with Russia playing a significant role in Trump retaining the presidency, there will be riots in the streets across the United States.
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We absolutely know how he would report the attempted transfer of election information from a hostile foreign power. He would report it as a meeting about adoption.
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Is Donald J. Trump an example of what people mean when they speak of "American Exceptionalism"?
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Yes, in a way. Exceptionalism is a myth and great lie wrought from the muck of racism, religious bigotry, greed and willingness to take whatever we want then excuse our behavior by claiming "we're special." Does that clarify?
So - a minority party with an unfractured base stands to upset the American system. If we make it through this without the US becoming a hereditary monarchy under King Trump, can we please dump the electoral college and make it a straight vote?
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@Andrew
... Need to amend the Costitution for that... saying 'please' doesn't cut it..
This episode provides another illustration of how lame the Democrat's strategy is on Trump and impeachment. Follow:
Trump "backtracked" because the acceptance of Russian & foreign intel for partisan electoral advantage is not acceptable to the American people and US media. Most would agree that it is grounds for impeachment.
Yet, the Dems have to date not laid the groundwork for this issue and are again reacting to Trump instead of framing the narrative .
It was addressed in the Mueller Report, but Mueller let Trump off the hook because he concluded that Russian Opposition research was not "a thing of value" (and absurd conclusion, given what people pay for this research) and that Trump Jr. was not aware that he as breaking the law (which is why Trump Jr. early on during Mueller investigation outed himself on this issue by sharing emails on the meeting in Trump Tower. That open disclosure was designed to create a false impression that he didn't know it was a crime).
The Dems also failed to educate the American people and remind the press that Mueller could not and would not indict Trump under DoJ policy, thereby letting Trump deploy the "full exoneration" lie.
Pathetic and incompetent issue management by Dems.
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Strikes me Trump is trying to play the cunning game of throwing out potential impeachable ideas and goading the Dems to go ahead and impeach, knowing the senate will not convict. The victim strategy.
In this case, his staff probably pulled him over and reminded him that his GOP cronies were angry about it, so he had to back off
The outrageous, vile and indecent composition of this presidency never ceases to astound anew.
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I'll just say this, history tends to support his first statement on the matter.
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"Hi Mr. President I am a Russian agent who would like to help." What to do next? Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Marsha Blackburn think we should let it go because it might be too intrusive and affect the authority of the states. Mitch on Fox, "case closed." From Henry Clay to Mitch McConnell, the trend line is totally downward.
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As evidenced by Trump treasonous comments, he has no knowledge of the laws of the land, no interest in learning them, and no ability to tell "right" from "wrong". In Trump's world, anything that serves Trump's interests, ego, or bankroll are perfectly OK. Whether that's aiding and abetting America's enemies, disregarding America's constitution, or flagrantly violating America's laws, there is no moral or legal boundary Trump will not cross.
Equally malevolent is Mitch McConnell and the 43 criminals masquerading as senators.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing a replay of the madness that lead my country into devastation starting in 1933. America is rapidly becoming a regime in which citizens have no guaranteed basic rights or rule of law. You are falling victim to the same propaganda that was used to spread racist goals and ideals in 1933-1939.
America lead the world out of WW II. It's time for America to regain that role.
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This was no mere slip of the tongue. This was a free flowing revelation that he truly feels anything is acceptable when fighting an opponent.
It revealed a man with no regard for the laws which he swore to defend because his commitment to them appears situational at best.
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou
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The problem is in deciding which time is a permanent position, but he says what the day seems to demand. There is no there there.
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He can't put that Genie back in the box, the sane already knew he conspired with Russia, only his cult and fox news viewers believed other wise, now he just admitted he would do it again.
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"You don't know what you got till its gone" - Joni Mitchell
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backtracking as usual.. and now, back to square one.
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Why does anyone believe anything this guys says anymore???
Even more, why do we even treat his lies as news????
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I wonder what Rudy has to say about all of this? I have not heard that old man flap his lower dentures in quite a while.
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He's being a "tourist" in the Ukraine?
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."
~ Maya Angelou
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Once again, nothing is wrong unless you get caught.
After the election, he will say "I didn't tell the FBI becuase it's an organization of low engery losers who work for the Democrats. It's all a big conspiracy, folks."
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Report or not report, that is the question.
Any one who takes the lying words of the liar-in-chief does it at his or her own risk. Whatever he says is meaningless. As Kim knows there was nothing behind the "fire and fury the world has never seen" (and will never see) and even the Iranians turns down his begging for a meeting through Abe of Japan.
Face it, he is a traitor selected, not even elected, by Putin.
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No, he would not "report it to the FBI" nor would his criminal enablers "report it to the FBI." Trump is a pathological liar and so are his enablers.
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"Backtrack". Sigh.
NYT, you use such mild terms to describe Individual-1's story as President.
I'm not suggesting you break with your stylebook and go all public-forum vulgar here, but sometimes I do have to stop, take a breath, and realize the gravity of what I'm reading on your pages.
We understand you're in a journalistic predicament, and an unpresidented [sic] one at that. I suppose I should appreciate the dulcet tones you use to report to daily decimation of the country I grew up in. Actually, I do appreciate that.
OK then, NYT, "you do you" as they say. I'll keep subscribing.
For over 20 years, your competitors have showered the American public with Kerry "flip-flop" stories, serious, eyebrows-raised coverage of birtherism, "Benghazi" and of course, "Her emails!". My hope--unlikely, I admit-- is that they begin to splash that same vitriol on this waxy cretin, for the benefit of folks who live where no one reads your paper, and whose Electors sent this man to Washington in the first place. I know the slogan has been retired, but truly it would be the fair and balanced thing to do.
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For a man nearing 11,000 verified lies, it is impossible to know if he is now telling the truth.
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Can anyone take anything that comes out of this man's mouth seriously?
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Ugh. I can’t take much more of this insanity.
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Bet there is fallout chaos in the Bunker this morning.
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This flip flopper , liar in chief , is still abusing the privilege of the Oval Office shamelessly and making us wonder of the mental stability of this administration especially now with the perspective of a war against Iran looming in the dark ....
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