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U.S. NEWS Friday 17 February 2017
Trump raps ‘criminal’ leaks, ‘dishonest’ media, ‘bad’ judges

JULIE PACE Trump knew for some time
AP White House Correspon- that Flynn had given Pence
dent an inaccurate accounting
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ag- of his discussions with Rus-
grieved and spoiling for a sia, but the president did
fight, Donald Trump used not tell his No. 2 for about
a marathon encounter two weeks, according to
with reporters Thursday to a timeline supplied by the
denounce the “criminal” White House.
leaks that took down his The president is expected
top national security ad- to soon announce Flynn’s
viser and revived questions replacement, with Vice
about his own ties to Russia. Admiral Robert Harward
But he offered only a law- said to be topping his list.
yerly denial that his cam- Harward was to meet with
paign aides had been in Trump aides at the White
touch with Russian officials House Thursday afternoon.
before last fall’s election. Trump repeatedly tried to
“Nobody that I know” he President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, in the East steer questions away from
Room of the White House in Washington.
said in the first full-length (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) his and his advisers’ poten-
news conference of his tial ties with Russia, saying
presidency. to a Gallup survey. But on victory. He said that while it.” The president said that attention should rather be
The 77-minute event other questions Americans he did not tell his adviser to while Flynn was “just doing focused on why a steady
amounted to a free-wheel- express deep reservations. discuss sanctions with the his job,” he was “not hap- stream of classified infor-
ing airing of complaints, Majorities say he doesn’t envoy, “I would have di- py” that the adviser had mation is making its way
with the new president at- inspire confidence and is rected him if he didn’t do misled the vice president. into news reports.q
tempting to find his footing not honest and trustworthy.
after the rockiest launch Trump’s job approval rating
in recent memory. Trump is much lower than those of
slammed a “bad court” of past presidents at the same
appeals judges for block- point in their administra-
ing his refugee and immi- tions. According to a Pew
gration executive order Research Center survey,
and denied that his White 39 percent of Americans
House was paralyzed approve of his job perfor-
by chaos and infighting mance while 56 percent
among top advisers. disapprove.
“This administration is run- Trump’s first month in office
ning like a fine-tuned ma- has been chaotic by any
chine,” he boasted. measure — a flurry of self-in-
With his signature hyper- flicted wounds and poorly
bole betrayed by reality, executed policy. On Mon-
Trump said there has never day, he demanded the
been a president “who in resignation of his national
this short period of time has security adviser Michael
done what we’ve done.” Flynn following revelations
He blamed any problems that Flynn misled Vice Presi-
on the outgoing Obama dent Mike Pence about his
administration — “I inher- contacts with Russia. The
ited a mess at home and next day, The New York
abroad” — and the news Times reported that mul-
media. tiple Trump advisers were
Standing in the stately, in touch with Russian intel-
chandeliered East Room, ligence advisers during the
Trump lambasted the “out election campaign.
of control” media — long Trump panned the report
his favorite foe. He ap- as “fake news” and said
peared to delight in joust- he had “nothing to do with
ing with reporters, repeat- Russia.”
edly interrupting their ques- “To the best of my knowl-
tions and singling out sto- edge no person that I deal
ries he disagreed with, well with does,” he added.
aware his attacks were sure That answer, couched with
to be cheered by loyal sup- a caveat similar to one rou-
porters who share his views. tinely used by witnesses on
Polls show Trump retains a trial stand, appeared to
support among Repub- give him wiggle room.
licans, and solid majori- The president more clearly
ties of Americans say he defended Flynn’s calls with
is following through on his Russia’s ambassador to
promises and is viewed as the U.S. during the transition
a strong leader, according period after his November