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“My people came to me—Dan Coats came to me and some others—they said they think it’s Russia. I have President Putin; he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be, but I really do want to see the server. But I have—I have confidence in both parties… So I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”
None of the three prior Republican Administrations in which I served had seen anything approaching this extent and manner of senior-level turnover.
Kelly opened the weekly White House staff meeting on August 27 by saying, “I’m in a bad place today,” because of ongoing disagreements with Trump over whether to fly US government flags at half-mast and who would attend which services. McCain’s family didn’t want Trump at the services either, so the feeling was mutual. The final decision was that Pence would lead the Administration’s representation at both the Capitol Rotunda ceremony and the funeral service at Washington National Cathedral. The service was extremely well attended, with all the socializing that routinely accompanies even
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“I’ve commanded men in combat,” he said, “and I’ve never had to put up with shit like that,” referring to what had just happened in the Oval. I could see his resignation coming, so I asked, “But what is the alternative if you resign?” Kelly said, “What if we have a real crisis like 9/11 with the way he makes decisions?” I asked, “Do you think it will be better if you leave?
Trump could initiate policies, but his lack of consistency, steadfastness, and resolve invariably undercut them. So it was on Iran sanctions.
“Play it down,” said Trump, which was yet again the wrong approach, but which reflected his view that if you pretended bad things hadn’t happened, perhaps no one else would notice.
