We could have given you a dozen front pages from Donald Trump’s chaotic press conference. Here are some of the also-rants . . .
U.S. President Donald Trump gave a news conference for the ages at the White House on Thursday.
Here are five stories from Trump’s presser that would have dominated the Star’s front page any other day:
TRUMP IMMIGRATION ORDER 2.0
Trump says he will introduce a new executive order tailored to get around court decision.
Trump said his administration will release a new executive order on immigration next week to — in his words — “comprehensively protect our country.”
Trump’s original order restricted immigration from seven Muslimmajority countries. It led to massive protests in airports and around the world before it was put on hold by a federal court.
“The new executive order is being tailored to the decision we got down from the court,” Trump said at the White House.
The administration asked the appeals court to hold off on making any more decisions related to the lawsuit until the new order is issued and then toss out the decision keeping the ban on hold.
FLYNN ‘WASN’T WRONG’ TRUMP SAYS OF MAN HE FIRED
Trump vigorously defends his ex-national security adviser against allegations he erred, says “what he did wasn’t wrong.”
Trump on Thursday vigorously defended Michael Flynn, whom he fired earlier this week, against charges his ex-national security adviser had erred at all in discussing U.S. sanctions with the ambassador of Russia in December, a time when Flynn had no official role in the U.S. government. “What he did wasn’t wrong,” Trump said at the White House when questioned why he wound up firing Flynn.
Trump went on to attack U.S. intelligence leaks that had revealed Flynn’s conduct and the reporters who had received them: “What was wrong was the way that other people, including yourselves in this room, were given that information, because that was classified information that was given illegally. “That’s the real problem.” Trump said he was not bothered Flynn spoke with the ambassador.
TRUMP MUSES ABOUT SHOOTING RUSSIAN SHIP SPOTTED OFF U.S. COAST
‘The greatest thing I could do is shoot that ship that’s 30 miles off shore right out of the water.’
Trump on Thursday floated the idea of sinking a Russian spy ship that has been spotted operating in international waters off the U.S. East Coast.
Trump made the statement in response to a question on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was testing his new administration with a recent series of apparent provocations.
“The greatest thing I could do is shoot that ship that’s 30 miles off shore right out of the water,” Trump said, after telling reporters that he had told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that “politically, it’s probably not good for me” to improve relations with Russia.
Later in the news conference, Trump added he wouldn’t telegraph his plans regarding the vessel: “When you ask me what am I going to do with . . . the Russian ship as an example, I’m not going to tell you.”
ARE THEY ‘FRIENDS OF YOURS?’ TRUMP ASKS BLACK REPORTER IN AWKWARD EXCHANGE
“I’m just a reporter,” April Ryan says after president asks her to “set up a meeting” with Congressional Black Caucus.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) expressed bafflement and dismay after Trump asked a black reporter to set up a meeting with them.
Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said there is “an element of disrespect” in Trump’s comment to journalist April Ryan.
Ryan asked Trump during his press conference Thursday whether he planned to include the CBC, which represents the black members of Congress, in developing his agenda.
The president responded by asking Ryan whether the CBC are “friends of yours” and remarking, “I tell you what, do you want to set up the meeting?” When asked whether Trump was implying that all black people know each other, Clyburn said, “I don’t know what his implications were, but that’s my interpretation.”
‘THE LEAKS ARE REAL’ AND ‘THE NEWS IS FAKE’
“I mean the leaks are real. You know what they said, you saw it and the leaks are absolutely real.”
Trump said on Thursday he has instructed the U.S. Justice Department to investigate leaks that have plunged his administration into turmoil for the last month.
“We are looking into that very seriously,” he said. “It’s a criminal act.” Since being sworn into office Jan. 20, Trump has been besieged by a seemingly endless stream of leaks from the White House and federal agencies.
Asked to clarify whether the information contained in the intelligence leaks is true, Trump said: “Well the leaks are real.
“You’re the one that wrote about them and reported them, I mean the leaks are real. You know what they said, you saw it and the leaks are absolutely real.”
He added: “The news is fake because so much of the news is fake.”