Trump Won't Stop Trying To Convince Everyone He Was Calm While Meeting With Democrats
President Donald Trump is insisting he “was extremely calm” on Wednesday as he refused to meet with Democrats to discuss infrastructure, instead gathering reporters for a press conference to bash special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in a letter to Congressional colleagues Wednesday night said Trump walked out of infrastructure talks with party leaders over Democrats’ continued investigations into his administration.
“Sadly, the only job the president seems to be concerned with is his own,” Pelosi wrote. “He threatened to stop working with Democrats on all legislation unless we end oversight of his administration and he had a temper tantrum for us all to see.”
Trump countered Pelosi’s account in tweets on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.
“I was purposely very polite and calm, much as I was minutes later with the press in the Rose Garden,” he wrote in one tweet.
In a letter to her House colleagues, Nancy Pelosi said: “President Trump had a temper tantrum for us all to see.” This is not true. I was purposely very polite and calm, much as I was minutes later with the press in the Rose Garden. Can be easily proven. It is all such a lie!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2019
In another tweet Thursday morning, the president accused the press of using “the rage narrative” to describe his actions the day prior.
“I was extremely calm yesterday with my meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, knowing that they would say I was raging, which they always do, along with their partner, the Fake News Media,” Trump wrote.
I was extremely calm yesterday with my meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, knowing that they would say I was raging, which they always do, along with their partner, the Fake News Media. Well, so many stories about the meeting use the Rage narrative anyway - Fake & Corrupt Press!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 23, 2019
At a White House event Thursday afternoon, Trump turned it back on Pelosi, calling her “crazy Nancy” and “a mess.”
The president also called on aides ― including press secretary Sarah Sanders, White House strategic communications adviser Mercedes Schlapp, and presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway and economic adviser Larry Kudlow ― to vouch for his calm temperament on Wednesday.
“Very calm. No temper tantrum,” Conway said.
Second Testimonial! Trump brings out Mercedes Schlapp to testify to Trump's utter calm in tantrum meeting. pic.twitter.com/EVYyf1Rjpe
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 23, 2019
Pres Trump calls on some top aides to back him up that he was calm and collected in his remarks yesterday calling off meeting with Democratic Leaders including Pelosi and Schumer. Calls Dems "a do-nothing group of people." And again refers to Pelosi as "a mess." pic.twitter.com/TOSr21b4yd
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 23, 2019
Democrats waited 15 minutes Wednesday for Trump to arrive to an infrastructure meeting. When he did, the president walked into the room, refused to acknowledge anyone or shake any hands and said he wouldn’t discuss infrastructure, trade or farm assistance until congressional investigations are done, according to a source familiar with the meeting. He then walked out and gathered media for a previously unannounced press conference.
Trump proceeded to blast Democrats for 12 minutes, accusing them of a “witch hunt” and claiming he is “the most transparent president in history.”
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.