Trump proves he’s ‘consumed’ by Russia in an off-the-wall press conference: Here are the 5 wildest moments
22 May 2019
President Donald Trump gave a press conference in the White House rose garden on Wednesday, addressing special counsel Robert Mueller’s final report for the Russia investigation and railing against Democrats in Congress who have been conducting investigations of him. And CNN’s Jeff Zeleny summarized the press conference perfectly when he asserted that Trump “is consumed by this investigation.”
Here are some of the wildest highlights of Trump’s press conference.
1. Trump demands an end to Democratic House investigations
Trump stressed during his press conference that he has no desire to cooperate with House Democrats in their investigations of him. And he went so far as to say that he won’t even work with them on policies or spending. Trump, in the past, expressed interest in bipartisan legislation on infrastructure, but on Wednesday, he asserted that there will be nothing done on infrastructure as long as House investigations of him continue.
2. Trump expressed refusal to work with Schumer as well as Pelosi on infrastructure
Trump told reporters, “I want to do infrastructure,” stressing that it won’t happen until Democrats “get these phony investigations over with.” And his comments were aimed not only at Pelosi, but also, at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Trump made it clear that he considers both Pelosi and Schumer hostile opponents, not the loyal opposition—and he indicated that if a bipartisan infrastructure bill doesn’t happen, Pelosi and Schumer will have no one but themselves to blame.
3. Trump slams Pelosi for saying he's engaged in a ‘cover up’
Nancy Pelosi has maintained that she is opposed to impeaching Trump, but that didn’t prevent him from attacking her. And Trump slammed Pelosi for saying he's engaged in a “cover up.”
4. Trump dismisses Russia probe as ‘the greatest hoax in history’
During Mueller’s Russia robe, Trump repeatedly dismissed it as a “witch hunt”—and he reiterated that theme on Wednesday. Trump told reporters, “It’s a hoax. The greatest hoax in history.”
5. Trump accuses Democrats in Congress of ‘abuse’
During the press conference, Trump was asked about checks in balances in the U.S. government and congressional oversight. But Democrats, he insisted, are being abusive. “I respect the courts,” Trump told reporters. “I respect Congress…. What they’ve done is abuse.”