Trump: ‘I inherited a mess’
Impromptu news conference turns into Festivus-caliber airing of grievances
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 — which so far has been marred by staff feuding, a controversial travel ban, false statements and
myriad leaks — 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 finetuned machine, despite the fact that I can’t get my Cabinet approved.”
Trump’s news conference — with the president firmly at the center as both complainer and defender in chief — 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 Monday of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and the decision Wednesday by his nominee for labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, to withdraw amid mounting opposition on Capitol Hill.
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.
Asked about recent reports in the Washington Post that Flynn had im- properly 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.
But Trump said that Flynn had erred by misleading government officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, about his conversations with Russia, which is why he ultimately demanded his resignation.
“He didn’t tell the vice president of the United States the facts,” Trump said. “And then he didn’t remember. And that just wasn’t acceptable to me.”
Trump also made clear that he had no problem with Flynn discussing with the Russian ambassador the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the Obama administration, saying it was Flynn’s job to reach out to foreign officials.
“No, I didn’t direct him, but I would have directed him if he didn’t do it,” Trump said.
Asked several times about reports in The New York Times and on CNN that his campaign had repeated contacts with Russia, including senior intelligence officials, Trump grew testy as reporters pushed him for a yes or no answer.
He said that he personally had not had contact and that he was not aware of such contacts during the campaign.
“Russia is a ruse,” Trump said. “I have nothing to do with Russia. Haven’t made a phone call to Russia in years. Don’t speak to people from Russia. Not that I wouldn’t. I just have nobody to speak to.”
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.
But for 77 minutes, the president offered the verbal equivalent of the brash and impetuous early-morning tweets that have become the alarm clock for much of Washington. He took aim at topics including the recent controversies over Russia, which he dismissed, and the “criminal leaks” within the intelligence community. 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 reprised some of his favorite themes from the campaign trail, complaining about Hillary Clinton, whom he referenced 12 times; criticizing Obama’s policies, from his Affordable Care Act to his failed reset with Russia; and relitigating wounds old and new in a Festivus-caliber airing of grievances.
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.
In another notable exchange with a Jewish reporter, who asked what Trump was going to do to tamp down on the uptick in anti-Semitism in the country since he took office, the president rejected the idea that he or his rhetoric might be partially to blame.
“Number one, I am the least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life,” Trump said. “Number two, racism, the least racist person.”