WASHINGTON (AP) — He said she’s a “third-grade” politician. She said he’s having a meltdown.
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And with that President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi chalked up the latest explosive meeting that ended abruptly with a walkout at the White House.
It’s a familiar ritual, with Trump and congressional leaders meeting on official business, only to see the session devolve into colorful, name-calling commentary that’s a new kind of addition to the history books. But this time, against the backdrop of the fast-moving impeachment inquiry, Pelosi arrived not just as the leader of the opposing party, but as the speaker who could determine Trump’s political future.
The administration called in congressional leadership to discuss the situation in Syria. The House had just voted, 354-60, to overwhelmingly oppose the president’s announced U.S. troop withdrawal, a rare bipartisan rebuke. Trump’s action has opened the door for a Turkish military attack on Syrian Kurds who have been aligned with the U.S. in fighting the country’s long-running war.
Trump kicked off the meeting bragging about his “nasty” letter to Turkish President Recep Erdogan, according to a Democrat familiar with the meeting who was granted anonymity to discuss it. In the letter, Trump warned the Turkish leader, with exclamation points, not to be “slaughtering” the Kurds. The person called Trump’s opening a lengthy, bombastic monologue.
Pelosi mentioned the House vote and Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, started to read the president a quote from former Defense Secretary James Mattis on the need to keep U.S. troops in Syria to prevent a resurgent of Islamic State fighters.
But Trump cut Schumer off, complaining that Mattis was “the world’s most overrated general. You know why? He wasn’t tough enough.” Trump went on, “I captured ISIS.”
Pelosi explained to Trump that Russia has always wanted a “foothold in the Middle East,” and now it has one with the U.S. withdrawal, according to a senior Democratic aide who was also granted anonymity.
“All roads with you lead to Putin,” the speaker said.
Then it began.
Trump said to Pelosi, “I hate ISIS more than you do.”
Pelosi responded, “You don’t know that.”
Schumer intervened at one point and said, “Is your plan to rely on the Syrians and the Turks?”
Trump replied, “Our plan is to keep the American people safe.”
Pelosi said: “That’s not a plan. That’s a goal.”
Trump turned to Pelosi and complained about former President Barack Obama’s “red line” over Syria. According to Schumer, he then called her “a third-rate politician.”
At that point, the genteel Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House Majority Leader, interjected, “This is not useful.”
Pelosi and Hoyer stood and left the meeting. As they did, Trump said, “Goodbye, we’ll see you at the polls.”
From the White House driveway, Pelosi told reporters Trump was having some kind of “meltdown” inside. She said they had to leave because Trump was unable to grasp the reality of the situation.
Later, she would insist he even botched the insult, calling her “third-grade” rather than “third-rate.”
The impeachment inquiry never came up, she said.
Trump insisted later on Twitter that it was Pelosi who had a “total meltdown,” calling her “a very sick person!”
He also tweeted pictures from the room. “Do you think they like me?” he asked mockingly about one, showing Pelosi and Schumer looking exhausted and glum.
“Nervous Nancy’s unhinged meltdown!” he tweeted with another.
In that photo, Pelosi can be seen, surrounded by congressional leaders and military brass around a table at the White House, finger outpointed. She is standing up, literally, to Trump.
Pelosi turned the photo into the banner on her Twitter page.
What’s wrong with Russia in the Middle East ? Why do we need to be there ? Please explain .
Oh I forgot all of irans nukes are Russian . that’s over rated and over simplified . Iran will do what they do anyhow . And Bibi seems to be close allies with Putin and he is the #1 Iran hawk . How do you explain that ? People tend to have this paranoia as if the Russians are communists who wreck lives . Do you know the difference between communists who came into a city , relocated every citizen , sent half to the Goulag and tortured the other half vs Putin who comes into Ukraine and knocks off q journalist here and there ? He ain’t a saint but it’s not a human rights issue .
Bottom line Trump is correct . The goal is to keep us safe . With Russia in Middle East isis ain’t Gona thrive and neither will al qeda . What else do we care about ?
Pelosi the third class and grade leader has some nerve to come in there with that chip on bet shoulder .
Now she needs to attend Cummings funeral . May his rat infested resting place have a field day
Right now, Moody’s Analytics, is stating Trump will win in a landslide. They’ve been right every election in recent history except the last election. If the Dems want to stay relevant, they better hold onto the House.
Third rate politician! Good for you, Mr. President! Wish I had been there to see her eyes pop out.
After weeks of Trump claiming there was no quid pro quo.
The acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney admitted on Thursday that President Donald Trump withheld foreign aid in order to get Ukraine’s help in the U.S. election.
“We do that all the time with foreign policy,” Mulvaney responded when a reporter pointed out that withholding funding from Ukraine “unless the investigation into the Democrats’ server happens” is a “quid pro quo.”
“Get over it,” he added later.
The picture tells the truth. It was Loose-Dentures-Pelosi who lost it and stood and pointed in the president’s face. Why would anyone believe the entire narrative of the fake news article which quotes (and expects us to believe) on the DIMocrats’ version of what happened!
Because Trump’s Chief of Staff confirmed those news articles.
Where has Crazy Uncle Rudy been the last few days? Lawyered up.