Trump denies White House in disarray
Aggrieved president lambastes media for reports of ‘chaos’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump aired his grievances against the news media, the intelligence community and his detractors in a sprawling stream-of-consciousness news conference Thursday, capping an extraordinary four weeks in office marked by tumult, disarray and infighting.
The beleaguered chief executive defended his advisers against claims of improper contacts with Russia and claimed — contrary to widespread perceptions both inside and outside the White House — that his fledgling administration “is running like a fine-tuned machine.”
“To be honest, I inherited a mess,” he said in a news conference that lasted an hour and 17 minutes and
was, by turns, rambling, combative and pure Trump. “It’s a mess. At home and abroad, a mess.”
Yet moments later, the president seemed to acknowledge the widespread reports of turbulence and upheaval emanating out of the West Wing, only to claim that his White House was operating seamlessly.
“I turn on the TV, open the newspapers and I see stories of chaos — chaos,” he said. “Yet it is the exact opposite. This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine, despite the fact that I can’t get my Cabinet approved.”
Chaos in Trump Cabinet
Trump’s news conference capped a month of turmoil in what so far is the most tumultuous start to any U.S. presidency in modern history. His approval ratings are underwater in most polls, and he is battling setbacks including the ouster on Monday of national security adviser Michael Flynn and the decision Wednesday by his nominee for labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, to withdraw.
The turmoil continued Thursday evening as Trump’s pick to replace Flynn, retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward, turned down the job, according to people familiar with the offer.
A senior U.S. official said that “family considerations changed his mind,” and a friend of Harward’s added that the hard-charging former Navy SEAL was not fully comfortable with the quickly moving process.
Asked about recent reports in The Washington Post that Flynn had improperly discussed Russian sanctions with the country’s ambassador to the United States before Trump was sworn in, the president defended Flynn as a “fine person,” saying he had done nothing wrong in engaging the Russian envoy.
Trump’s general defense of Russia stood in contrast to comments that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made at a NATO meeting Thursday in Brussels, where he said that there was “very little doubt” that the Russians have either interfered or attempted to interfere with elections in democratic nations.
Thursday’s news conference was ostensibly billed as a chance for Trump to announce Alexander Acosta as his new nominee for labor secretary. If confirmed, Acosta would be the first Latino in Trump’s Cabinet.
Travel bans and tax reform
But for 77 minutes, the president took aim at recent controversies. Although he inherited a growing economy, low inflation and low unemployment, he repeatedly portrayed a country in shambles under President Barack Obama.
Trump also said he would use his remarks to bypass the “dishonest media” and speak directly to the American people about the “incredible progress” his administration has made.
He said he has asked the Justice Department to look into the leaks coming out of U.S. intelligence agencies. He promised a new executive order by the middle of next week that would replace the now-frozen directive that temporarily barred refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Trump also said he would put forward a plan to repeal Obama’s Affordable Care Act by mid-March, with a tax reform package soon after.
“Tax reform is going to happen fairly quickly,” he said. “We’re doing Obamacare. We’re in the final stages.”
Trump repeatedly lambasted the “fake news” media while promoting some dubious claims and fake news of his own.
Trump was pressed on his incorrect assertion that he had the largest margin of victory in the electoral college since President Ronald Reagan, when Obama, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush had bested him in all of their victories. The new president blamed faulty facts.
“I was given that information,” he said. “Well, I don’t know, I was given that information.”
In an exchange with April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks — the only black reporter called on by Trump — the president asked her to arrange a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Do you want to set up the meeting? Are they friends of yours?” he asked.