Trump’s White House and the takeaways
US President Donald Trump began his fourth week in the White House Monday by hosting Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and ended the day accepting the resignation of top aide Michael Flynn. The stunning departure of Flynn, Trump’s national security advisor, was due to allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia’s ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office. Here are five takeaways from the day:
Flynn out
Flynn’s resignation came late Monday after a day of speculation about his future, especially after the White House said Trump was “evaluating” his contacts with the Russian government. The top aide-whose past encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin have already drawn criticism-was accused of discussing the Obama administration’s election-hacking-related sanctions with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn initially claimed he did not discuss sanctions, prompting Vice President Mike Pence to publicly come to his defense. But Flynn later admitted that he “inadvertently briefed” Pence with “incomplete information” about his calls with Kislyak.Trump named retired lieutenant general Joseph Kellogg, who was serving as a director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be interim national security advisor.
The Situation (dining) Room
Social media posts of Trump and Shinzo Abe huddling with aides in a public dining room after North Korea’s missile test raised questions about the US administration’s handling of sensitive information. The conversation was captured on camera from close range by a member of Trump’s Mar-aLago club in Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday. One caption of the now removed posts by Facebook user Richard DeAgazio read: “The President receiving the news about the Missile incident from North Korea on Japan with the Prime Minister sitting next to him.”
When the president is away from the White House, many crisis conversations take place in what is known as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility or SCIF-a facility normally out of bounds for individuals without security clearance. The White House said that Trump was briefed in such a room “prior to dinner” and that no sensitive information was shared at the table.” There is no one in that picture around him or whatever that isn’t part of the US delegation or the Japanese delegation, they were reviewing the logistics for the press conference,” said White House spokesman Sean Spicer.
Ivanka at the top table
Trump’s daughter Ivanka got a plum spot at America’s highest table, taking place next to the 45-year-old Canadian premier Trudeau at a White House meeting with the president, and businesswomen from both countries. The appearance by Ivanka, who opened the discussion after both leaders had spoken, comes amid questions over the separation of Trump family businesses from the official roles of the president and his relatives.
Trump is the first president in modern times to refuse to release his tax returns or divest from his business interests-choosing instead to put his sons in charge. Ivanka also has significant business interests that have become the focus of government ethics watchdogs. Trump last week tweeted that his daughter had been treated “so unfairly” by Nordstrom, an upscale department store chain that dropped her fashion brand, and a key Trump aide is facing possible investigation after pitching Ivanka’s clothing on television.