Trump walks out on Democrats

Infrastructure effort crumbles amid tensions

WASHINGTON • The curtains in the cabinet room were drawn. The Democrats were waiting. And President Donald Trump came and went in three minutes.

Trump’s angry walkout on Wednesday left behind a shattered bipartisan infrastructure effort and an escalation of tension between the president and the congressional Democrats investigating him. He barked at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for earlier suggesting he was involved in a “coverup” and headed to the Rose Garden for an impromptu news conference in which he declared that he would not work with Democrats if they continue with their probes.

“I don’t do coverups,” Trump said. “You can’t do it under these circumstances. So get these phoney investigations over with.”

Trump’s anger had been building well before he stepped into the cabinet room for a followup meeting with Democrats about a $2 trillion infrastructure deal that both parties already suspected was on life support.

Trump was incensed by reports Tuesday that some of his closest former aides, including ex-communications director Hope Hicks, were being subpoenaed to testify, according to three White House officials and Republicans close to the West Wing.

The president reached a boiling point before the meeting when he saw media coverage of Pelosi’s remark. She told reporters after a private meeting with House Democrats that Trump was “engaged in a coverup” even as she tried to temper impeachment talk in her own party. Trump told aides that he would refuse to work with Democrats.

White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway then turned to Pelosi and asked if she had “a direct response to the president.” Pelosi replied: “I’m responding to the president, not staff.”

Moments later, as the room emptied, Conway turned to the speaker and said: “Really great, that’s really pro-woman of you.”

Outside, in the Rose Garden, a printed sign that read “No Collusion” and “No Obstruction” was hastily posted on the president’s lectern. White House reporters were summoned for the unscheduled news conference.

Trump said he told Democrats he wanted to work on an infrastructure plan, “but you know what, you can’t do it under these circumstances.”

Meanwhile, lawmakers in New York passed legislation Wednesday that would allow Trump’s state tax returns to be released to congressional committees that have, so far, been barred from getting the president’s federal filings.

The bill was then sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Also Wednesday, a federal judge rejected a request by Trump to block congressional subpoenas for his banking records.