Donald Trump speaks with Fox’s Chris Wallace, November 18, 2018
Fearing the approach of the Trump-Russia investigation, Donald Trump spends the weekend putting out a series of falsehoods, insults, and absurd statements.
Trump began the weekend with a photo-opportunity visit to southern California, where 77 people are confirmed dead hundreds missing in a large forest fire. He misnamed Paradise, the town at the center of the blaze, as “Pleasure” and suggested that the Finnish practice of raking leaves would have prevented the disaster.
In fact, authorities believe the fire was started by downing power lines. The Finnish President, who had spoken with Trump about forest management, said he had no idea how Trump came up with “raking”, as Finns made fun of the comment.
Just an ordinary day in the Finnish forest ~ Ihan normipäivä suomalaisessa metsässä #Trump #forest #firesafety #raking #forestry #Finland #Finnish #CaliforniaFire #RakingAmericaGreatAgain #rakingtheforest #Suomi #haravointi #metsäpalot #rakingleaves pic.twitter.com/YOKA3D6C2K
— Pyry Luminen (@pyryluminen) November 18, 2018
But the showpiece encounter came on Sunday morning when Trump appeared on his favored outlet Fox TV, albeit in an interview by one of the channel’s scrupulous journalists, Chris Wallace.
Trying to control the exchange, Trump only showed his nerves as he was asked about comments by retired Adm. William McRaven — former head of Special Operations Command and the leader of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 — about Trump’s attacks on the press.
“OK, he’s a Hilary Clinton backer and an Obama-backer, and frankly … wouldn’t it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that?” Trump snapped.
Facing Mueller
Trump’s edgiest comments were about the Russia inquiry, as the team of Special Counsel Robert Mueller — who avoided any significant public action for two months before the November 6 Congressional elections — continue their work.
For months, Mueller has sought a face-to-face session with Trump. White House attorneys have resisted, and last Monday they sat down with Trump to draft written answers.
Trump insisted that he alone had drafted the responses, returning to his “No Collusion” line and insisting that the investigation should soon wind up.
WALLACE: No interview?
TRUMP: I think we’ve wasted enough time on this witch hunt and the answer is probably, we’re finished.
WALLACE: What are the odds? One in a hundred? What–What?
TRUMP: I don’t do odds, I gave very detailed–
WALLACE: You ran a casino sir.
TRUMP: You’re right, and very successfully actually.
(Three of Trump’s casinos declared bankruptcy.)
Trump also betrayed concern as he lashed out at Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democrat who will take over as chair of the House Intelligence Committee in January. Converting Schiff’s name into a vulgar insult, he falsely claimed that Mueller’s appointment required Senate confirmation.
So funny to see little Adam Schitt (D-CA) talking about the fact that Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was not approved by the Senate, but not mentioning the fact that Bob Mueller (who is highly conflicted) was not approved by the Senate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2018
In an attempt to prevent an encounter with Mueller, Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions on November 7 and appointed political operative Whitaker. In that position, Whitaker — who has derided the Trump-Russia investigation — can veto any Mueller subpoena of Trump.
Return of the Caravan
After almost two weeks of relative quiet over immigrants — in contast to his pre-election falsehoods and shouts about the threat of a caravan including women and children — Trump resurrected the “threat” on Sunday:
The Mayor of Tijuana, Mexico, just stated that “the City is ill-prepared to handle this many migrants, the backlog could last 6 months.” Likewise, the U.S. is ill-prepared for this invasion, and will not stand for it. They are causing crime and big problems in Mexico. Go home!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2018
He blustered, “Catch and Release is an obsolete term. It is now Catch and Detain.”
About 5,600 troops, ordered by Trump to the Mexico border, remain in southern Texas — hundreds of miles away from the caravan as it approaches the boundary with California.
