The one big mistake that will end Donald Trump’s presidency
Donald Trump’s lawyers are in talks for an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Thursday, Politico reported that one person familiar with the meeting stated, “I don’t think it’s months and months out. I don’t think it’s in a week, but I think it’s moving toward closure.” Trump has previously stated, “I’m looking forward to it, actually,” he told reporters in the White House on January 24. His attorneys, however, tried to walk back the president’s statement, saying he was “speaking hurriedly” before departing for a trip to Europe. If Trump sits down with Mueller, his presidency is over.
This news comes the day after the Washington Post reported that President Trump bragged in a fundraising speech that he purposely lied about information in a meeting to our top U.S. ally, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, stating the United States runs a trade deficit with its neighbor to the north.
“Trudeau came to see me. He’s a good guy, Justin. He said, ‘No, no, we have no trade deficit with you, we have none. Donald, please,’ ” Trump said, mimicking Trudeau, according to audio of the private event in Missouri. “Nice guy, good-looking guy, comes in — ‘Donald, we have no trade deficit.’ He’s very proud because everybody else, you know, we’re getting killed. “ … So, he’s proud. I said, ‘Wrong, Justin, you do.’ I didn’t even know. … I had no idea. I just said, ‘You’re wrong.’ You know why? Because we’re so stupid. … And I thought they were smart. I said, ‘You’re wrong, Justin.’ He said, ‘Nope, we have no trade deficit.’ I said, ‘Well, in that case, I feel differently,’ I said, ‘but I don’t believe it.’ I sent one of our guys out, his guy, my guy, they went out, I said, ‘Check, because I can’t believe it.’”
As Trump’s legal team awaits a list of prepared questions from the Special Counsel, they’ve indicated he may even war-game the session in advance, similarly to how candidates stage mock debates to prepare themselves for political opponents. However, Trump is notorious for not reading, including his own presidential daily briefing. Nor does he prepare for legal proceedings, and is known for lying under oath. His bombastic persona and short attention span make for a nightmare scenario for any attorney representing him.
As the Special Counsel prepares an obstruction of justice case against Trump, questions about the firing of former FBI Director Jim Comey, and Trump’s attempt at firing Robert Mueller last June — which he also lied about, and was later corrected by White House counsel Don McGahn — will inevitably be asked. Thursday, the Deputy independent counsel under Ken Starr proclaimed, “This is very dangerous. There’s no question if he were a normal client, you would tell him, don’t go in for an interview”. This week, when Trump’s lead negotiator, John Dowd, was asked by a reporter for his thoughts on the upcoming interview, he stated, “None of your business.”
Gina Bradbury is a freelance writer with 20 years experience working in both the federal government and private sector. She is active in grassroots advocacy for progressive policy.