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| President Donald Trump's stormed out of an infrastructure meeting with Democrats on Wednesday, upset about longstanding Democratic investigations. |
Did Trump forget the Stormy Daniels cover-up? |
| By Karen Hobert Flynn |
| Americans deserve an accountable government with leaders willing to put their differences aside for the greater good. But President Donald Trump's pre-planned temper tantrum yesterday is just the latest example of an unsuccessful governing style that leads to more frustration and cynicism from the American people. |
| Trump is now holding hostage millions of American jobs and much needed investments into our country's crumbling roads and bridges, unless Congress stops its investigations into his administration's abuse of power, obstruction of justice and corruption. This demand is disgraceful. The legislative process cannot be held hostage to duck accountability in a democracy. |
| Talker: Trump's Republican allies must respond to Justin Amash's impeachment call |
| Ask your friends and family to sign-up for the Today's Talker newsletter |
| After storming out of a meeting with members of Congress on Wednesday, President Trump held a press conference where he began with the phrase "I don't do cover-ups." The truth is Trump's campaign and presidency have been filled with lies and cover-ups. Two of the most egregious examples are: |
| ► Just days before the election in 2016, it was Trump who instructed his fixer Michael Cohen to funnel $130,000 in hush money to adult film star actress Stormy Daniels — money he reimbursed after taking office — in violation of campaign finance laws. |
| ► When the news media first reported that senior members of the Trump's team — including Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner — secretly met with Russian operatives promising dirt on Hillary Clinton in Trump Tower during the campaign, also in violation of campaign finance laws, Trump reportedly dictated the misleading statement by Trump Jr. claiming the meeting was about adoption policy. |
| The president's strained relationship with the truth is well-documented. The Washington Post has identified more than 10,000 false or misleading statements that Trump made since assuming office. |
| The lies did not begin with his swearing in. For years, Trump built a personal brand of being a successful businessman, but he has since refused to release his taxes or any financial information during his campaign and presidency. The financial information the public has seen shows that he and his business have lost millions of dollars each year due to bad deals and investments. |
| The true brand of Donald Trump is not successful businessman or elected official, but instead a man who lies and tries to cover up anything that could be potentially damaging to him. |
| In light of the evidence, Trump's demands that Congress stop its investigations is indefensible, and his claim that government cannot function while the investigations continue simply does not hold water. |
| Enough is enough. The American people can see through Trump's game-show style governing that makes high school student government look effective and efficient. The president's latest attempts to bully, intimidate and obstruct justice are a violation of the oath of office he swore on the steps of the Capitol. There are real opportunities right now for the White House to work with Congress to improve our nation's infrastructure, increase election security and lower prescription drug prices, but it will require the president to work with all members of Congress on issues important to the American people. It is long past time for Trump put the country's interests before his own. |
| Karen Hobert Flynn is president of Common Cause. You can follow her on Twitter: @KHobertFlynn. |
 | | Trump | | David Fitzsimmons/The Arizona Star/PoliticalCartoons.com | |
What others are saying |
| Kurt Bardella, NBC.com : "President Donald Trump is feeling the heat. ... Although it's useless to speculate about what motivates this particular chief executive, it seems likely that his outburst was influenced by several recent political setbacks. The first was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying Trump engaged in a 'cover-up.' The second was an important legal decision that has clear implications for numerous legal showdowns expected between the executive branch and the legislative branch." |
| Ronna McDaniel, FoxNews.com : "President Trump has long encouraged partnership across the aisle to address investment in our ground transportation infrastructure, air travel system, and broadband accessibility. ... The president was right to call off the infrastructure meeting. He — and the American people — recognize that Pelosi and Schumer have no intention of getting anything done. We recognize that it's impossible to negotiate policy when the focus of an entire party is on phony witch hunts. We recognize there is no use in negotiating with people who will do anything to see the president fail." |
| Michelle Cottle, The New York Times : "Where does everyone go from here? Since taking over the House, Democrats have been adamant that they can pursue a dual-track strategy of working with the president on shared policy aims, even as they investigate his administration. Mr. Trump has effectively blown up that plan. ... Obviously, the investigations will continue. So if policy is off the table, how will Mr. Trump spend his days? Go into full campaign mode? Spend more time visiting his properties? More executive time? Perhaps he will immerse himself in foreign affairs, where he doesn't have to worry so much about congressional meddling." |
What our readers are saying |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is doing a great job. She's playing President Donald Trump like the chump he is. Trump had a total meltdown on Wednesday because Congress is getting closer to proving to the American people he is running a criminal enterprise. |
| — Bern Reid |
| Well, I have to admit, it was delusional to think that once special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation found no collusion that we would be able to focus on working for this country. Clearly, that will never be and we will be forced to watch a constant parade of nonstop gridlock and calls of impeachment. |
| — Jake Smith |
| Trump sure is throwing a lot of tantrums and road blocks, for being so innocent. Trump would of been passing Mueller's report out for free and shoving it down our throats, if he were truly exonerated. |
| — Bernadette LaJoice |
| Pelosi is doing nothing for the country. She wanted Muller to not be removed and he remained. Now, she's not happy about the report, having expected Trump to be persecuted when it was done. Pelosi and the other Democrats should get back to trying to make good things happen for the country, rather than continue hunting for the Republican "witches." |
| — Clayton Spangenberg |
| To join the conversations about topics on USA TODAY or provide feedback to this newsletter, email jrivera@usatoday.com, comment on Facebook, or use #tellusatoday on Twitter. |
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