President Donald Trump was supposed to come together with Democrats for a bipartisan press conference about a bill that would stop “surprise” medical bills after emergencies. It was staged with officials and doctors in white lab coats, but when given the opportunity to make remarks and answer questions, the president spoke about everything other than the positive reason both parties came together.
Below are the weirdest and most shocking claims Trump made during his press conference Thursday:
1. John Kerry should be prosecuted for talking to Iran
According to Trump, former Sec. of State John Kerry has been speaking with Iranians, which the president said violates the Logan Act. Trump has done little to prove that Kerry has done anything illegal, but that hasn’t stopped him from accusations before.
Assuming he’s saying simply “talking” to a foreign power without authorization is a violation, it would also mean Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn also violated the Logan Act.
In wake of the Flynn revelations, House Republicans argued for getting rid of the Logan Act.
President Trump on Iran: "I'd like them to call me. You know, John Kerry speaks to them a lot. @JohnKerry tells them not to call. That's a violation of the Logan Act. And, frankly, he should be prosecuted on that." pic.twitter.com/Y145xDnb3g
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 9, 2019
Trump calls for @JohnKerry to be prosecuted pic.twitter.com/mQVPU8priM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 9, 2019
2. Adam Schiff attacks continue
Trump has been attacking top Intelligence Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff for questioning the president and his advisors for questionable behavior. Trump claimed that Schiff “cons” Americans every time he steps up to a microphone, a rich accusation coming from Trump.
The president has a tendency to accuse others of what he does himself.
3. Trump says he calms John Bolton’s warhawkery.
During the Thursday press event, Trump admitted that John Bolton is even more extreme than him.
“I actually temper John,” Trump told the press. “I’m a little more dove-ish.”
Indeed, Bolton has been an extreme hawk, particularly when it involves going to war with Iran.
4. Donald Trump Jr. is innocent because Trump is
As the president tried to spin his son’s legal problems (lying to Congress), he explained that Donald Trump Jr. was innocent because the president was “exonerated.”
“My son was totally exonerated by Robert Mueller,” Trump claimed.
“My son was totally exoernated by Robert Mueller,” President Trump says.
FACT CHECK: The Mueller Report did not mention exonerating any of the president’s children.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) May 9, 2019
we're approaching "they can’t arrest a husband and wife for the same crime" territory https://t.co/wyq2kdfIbb
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) May 9, 2019
Trump on Don Jr getting subpoenaed by GOP Sen. Richard Burr: "My son is a good person… my son was totally exonerated by Mueller… and frankly, for my son, after being exonerated, to now get a subpoena to go again & speak again… Yeah, I'm pretty surprised." pic.twitter.com/SU93ClXD1f
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 9, 2019
5. Trump talks about his “beautiful letter” from President Xi of China as trade negotiations break down.
The stock market is dropping Thursday morning amid concerns that Trump’s tariffs will go into effect at midnight. Negotiations with China over a trade deal have broken down, with Chinese negotiators saying the United States is “bluffing” in its threats.
“I happen to think that tariffs for our country are very powerful,” Trump told reporters.
It appears as though Trump has yet to actually read the letter.
Trump claims that President Xi of China "just wrote me a beautiful letter. I just received it." (Kim Jong Un must be jealous.) pic.twitter.com/TqhjlbAgzv
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 9, 2019
