The half of the Washington press corps that’s not writing pieces on President Trump’s mindset in the run-up to James Comey’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee is trying to wring some news out of the rumored split between Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Jim Acosta, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, was on the case Tuesday night while watching some GOP Senators arrive for dinner with the president.
Sessions is not stepping down, a DOJ spokeswoman says.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 7, 2017
Well then; that’s where things stood at 8:22. But would a White House spokesperson go on record?
It's almost 9pm and WH still cannot say whether POTUS has confidence in his Attorney General. "No updates," a WH official said.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 7, 2017
The suspense would be killing us if we were particularly attached to Jeff Sessions. Check out the day’s drama, beginning with a piece in the New York Times Monday night.
Trump sours on Sessions, early & ardent supporter he now blames for troubles @peterbakernyt @maggieNYT https://t.co/eKtU8dDevw
— Julie Davis (@juliehdavis) June 6, 2017
One wonders whether the headline would work with the names reversed … https://t.co/ZD4r2iaYu5
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) June 6, 2017
This would be a good question for Sean Spicer on Tuesday:
Wow — @PressSec cannot say whether the president has confidence in his Attorney General.
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) June 6, 2017
Trump/Sessions rift is real. I'm told Sessions even offered to resign. Asked about that, his spokesperson declined to comment
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) June 6, 2017
Rather incredible. Sessions is Godfather of Trumpism – two top former Sessions aides in White House, Stephen Miller among them => https://t.co/Lu1TgXUbTy
— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) June 6, 2017
JUST IN: Attorney General Jeff Sessions suggested he could resign amid rising tension with Pres. Trump. https://t.co/dOaYs7GT3P pic.twitter.com/jPvt5LB3Er
— ABC News (@ABC) June 6, 2017
Spicer today did not answer direct question on if Trump had confidence in Sessions https://t.co/UvIYLnvD8F
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 6, 2017
That’s not like Spicer.
Here is the exchange between reporters and Spicer on the subject of Trump/Sessions pic.twitter.com/WF59VZ5E9q
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 6, 2017
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People who don't like Sessions are missing the point. He's a core supporter form the start. If he's exasperated with Trump's antics …
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) June 6, 2017
Trump is now raging at Jeff Sessions. This hints at a deeply unsettling pattern. https://t.co/zg2m2mk07u by @ThePlumLineGS
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) June 6, 2017
MORE: Sources say Trump lashed out repeatedly at Sessions in private meetings, blaming his recusal for expansion of Russian investigation.
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 6, 2017
MORE: Frustration between Pres. Trump and his attorney general runs both ways, prompting Sessions' resignation offer https://t.co/0sLqHExmbJ
— ABC News (@ABC) June 6, 2017
Confirmed that Sessions at one point told the president, amid tensions NYT reported last night, that he needed room to do his job and 1/
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 6, 2017
…did not need to remain it if the president didn't want him there. Trump declined to accept. 2/2
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 6, 2017
Learned of the discussion of resignation – which should not be mistaken as a hard ststement – earlier today https://t.co/3LH6B2lAZK
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 7, 2017
'This Is Really Bad': @krauthammer Warns @POTUS on Sessions Departure Rumors
https://t.co/jpB0LAN9Wk— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 6, 2017
Two people close to the WH tell me that Sessions-Trump tensions have lingered for months, with frustrations stoked by AG's recusal…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 7, 2017
At some point, date unknown, Sessions suggested he could step down as AG if Trump wanted, but Trump declined offer, the people said
— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 7, 2017
Meanwhile, more news organizations matching story that AG Sessions offered up his resignation https://t.co/r9TYTgtZXg
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) June 7, 2017
On where things stand at the WH with Sessions, @Acosta: official said it was still necessary to check in with the president on this question
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) June 7, 2017
If @realDonaldTrump dumps Sessions this could get interesting @maggieNYT Trump might like new, pliant AG with no ?? baggage.
— Adam Goldman (@adamgoldmanNYT) June 7, 2017
Not happening anytime soon, if at all. https://t.co/YnZvuuNLRG
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 7, 2017
JUST IN: Attorney General Jeff Sessions offered to resign after tensions grew with Trump https://t.co/vmbWwMXTSa
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) June 7, 2017
Just in? JUST IN? Dude, where have you been?
Another blockbuster: AG Jeff Sessions offered to resign & told Trump he needed freedom to do his job. https://t.co/MtxIsngOCI
— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) June 7, 2017
Two things – if Sessions was serious about resigning, he would have. And Trump isn't firing someone who would leave him with Rosenstein.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 7, 2017
People close to WH tell me the Sessions suggestion was brief and declined by Trump, but certainly a tense moment. https://t.co/BU6Ca52wKc
— Robert Costa (@costareports) June 7, 2017
This story is evaporating before our eyes in real time, not even surviving a news cycle. There’ll be others.https://t.co/6bqwjzY4fw
— JohnGilmore (@Shabbosgoy) June 7, 2017
So, after all that, it appears that Sessions isn’t resigning, though he might have threatened to at some point. Hold on; we have a late update:
Jeff Sessions offered to resign as attorney general amid tensions with Trump, sources say https://t.co/HctzGeTcG2 pic.twitter.com/IdJLXggyrh
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) June 7, 2017
Here’s a righteous tweet-storm from conservative blogger Brian Cates that sums things up nicely:
I'm flabbergasted by how many people immediately assume some new anonymously sourced DNC Media story is 100% accurate enough to believe.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
Have some people been in a coma since February? WHY would you *still* be immediately assuming an anonymously sourced story is accurate?
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
"Bannon's out!" "Prebius is out!" "Trump screamed at [insert name of world leader here!] "Comey fired for asking for more Russia $!"
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
"Trump gave up intel sources to the Russians!" "Rosenstein pissed, threatened to quit!" "China gave Ivanka $$$!"
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
We're at the point now DNC Media is basing stories on anonymously sourced memos read over the phone & anonymous letters. pic.twitter.com/CFmqSdgC9a
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
But watch, any new story DNC Media launches about Trump administration turmoil is immediately grabbed & championed by the same people
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
The latest anonymously sourced DNC Media story about Trump WH turmoil is ABC News claiming AG Sessions offered to resign.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
Of course, about 10 minutes from now, as usual, Sessions is gonna go ON THE RECORD and absolutely dispute this news story.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
But it doesn't matter. It's all about CONFIRMATION BIAS for too many people at this point. It fits what they WANT to believe, so run with it
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
I saw reporters do this when McMaster came out & held a presser to SPECIFICALLY go on the record to deny 'Trump gave Russia intel' reports
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
McMaster and several others who were at the Trump meeting with the Russians denied the news reports in the most specific language.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
You know what DNC Media said to that? "McMaster is now questioning our anonymous sources. This puts McMaster's credibility at risk."
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
I am not making this up. Multiple reporters actually said this. https://t.co/ysrmoBU71m
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
Watch 1 reporter frame this as if 3 on-the-record denials vs anonymous sources is a problem for the White House: https://t.co/1wLepDJxm2
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
McMaster goes on the record to dispute DNC Media's anonymously sourced reports, so HIS credibility is at risk: https://t.co/tMVb8kOwr1
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
They set narratives anonymously. Then look for anonymous sources to drive the narrative forward. Remember this? https://t.co/Pe0El86lQk
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
One other thing to bear in mind – Trump is dreading the overseas trip https://t.co/FoEfQGlOrZ
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) May 16, 2017
And then while Trump was having his huge successful 1st foreign trip as President, the media floated a ton of anonymous stories.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
My favorite one was "Trump is going to FIRE MULTIPLE HIGH LEVEL LEAKERS WHEN HE GETS BACK FROM HIS TRIP!"
Remember that one?
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
He gets back from his trip and….nothing. Another anonymously sourced dud to join the whole legion of anonymously sourced duds last 6 mnths
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
Why AT THIS POINT do I see so many people I would expect to know better still rushing forward to eagerly seize on DNC Media's latest?
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
"Here's our latest anonymously sourced report by multiple sources who won't go on the record detailing complete Trump White House chaos!"
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
Have you not yet figured out most of the DNC Media's anonymous sources are Gov't Democrats/Obama holdovers?
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
This is why this shit's done anonymously. You know that, right?
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
If the reporter told you "I got 4 lifelong Democrats who are staunch Obama supporters to confirm Sessions offered to resign!" you'd buy it?
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
But oh hey, by putting it THIS way: "Multiple anonymous sources, all current & former gov't officials say…" the reporter sells it to you.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 6, 2017
They pull this same neat trick over & over again to convince you to trust their anonymous sources, heroes just tryin' ta tell the truth!
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 7, 2017
DNC Media is providing cover for politically motivated Democrat leakers in gov't by falsely giving them the shield of anonymous neutrality.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 7, 2017
At this point, as they roll out their latest news story on Sessions based on what Democrat political operatives told them why buy in?
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 7, 2017
People want their biases confirmed. As long as they'll rush to embrace these anonymously sourced stories that fit their beliefs, will go on.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 7, 2017
Many times these leakers are NOT truth tellers, not whistleblowers. They are politically motivated Dem/Progressive activists in gov't
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 7, 2017
And DNC Media is deliberately f**king with you by giving these political activists leaking for political reasons anonymous neutrality.
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 7, 2017
If you still fall for this scam at this point, it's time to reexamine how you look at DNC Media & their motives for what they present to you
— Happy Thanksgiving & Epstein Didn't Kill Himself (@drawandstrike) June 7, 2017
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Related:
4th bombshell of the night? CNN reports WH now researching impeachment procedures, just in case https://t.co/rxoUfl3j21
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 19, 2017
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