Analysis: Trump’s Sessions remarks show penchant for shaming

WASHINGTON » The art of humiliation appears to be a key operating principle for President Donald Trump, and his remarks about Attorney General Jeff Sessions are the latest example of the ease with which the president is willing to air grievances about members of his team.

Trump took on Sessions in an interview Wednesday with The New York Times, criticizing the former U.S. senator and early Trump campaign supporter for recusing himself from the FBI investigation into possible ties between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

Trump called Sessions’ decision to step aside “very unfair to the president” and added that he would have chosen someone else to lead the Justice Department if he’d had any inkling that Sessions would take such a step.

Sessions, who said Thursday he has no plans to resign, has plenty of administration company to compare notes with.

A look at other team members and supporters Trump has taken shots at: was in California for a previously scheduled appearance and learned of his dismissal on TV. The following day, during an Oval Office meeting with top Russian government officials, Trump described Comey as a “nut job” and said his dismissal relieved “great pressure” from the investigation, the Times later reported. In a separate NBC News interview, Trump said Comey was a “showboat” and “grandstander” who was doing a bad job at the FBI. Volvo, Kia and other companies that were represented, then said: “And then I look at Reince,” drawing scattered laughs with a tone that suggested Priebus was a less impressive presence.

“He should run a car company. Probably will end up doing that in a long time,” Trump said of Priebus, who has survived endless speculation that he is close to being fired. Trump quickly added that Priebus has “done a great job.” liked Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N.

“Because if you don’t, otherwise, she can easily be replaced,” Trump said to awkward laughter, including from Haley, most recently the governor of South Carolina. “No, we won’t do that, I promise. We won’t do that. She’s doing a fantastic job.”

Haley has been one of the most outspoken members of the Trump administration, with tough talk on Russia, Syria and North Korea.