Did someone think the Democrats were getting too much airtime? For the first time in his presidency, Donald Trump made an appearance in the White House briefing room. It was a hastily announced briefing by Sarah Sanders who instead turned the microphone over to the President.
But it wasn’t a briefing. That was a(nother) lie. Instead, the press was treated to what those in the Washington press call a “dog and pony show” on border security.
President Trump leaves briefing room without taking questions — making it crystal clear that it was a political dog-and-pony show, rather than an attempt to answer questions about opening the government. No questions taken by Trump or Sanders in first WH briefing of year.
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) January 3, 2019
Timeline: White House says that @PressSec Sarah Sanders will brief in 5 minutes. Press scrambles. Briefings mean a chance to ask questions. Sanders enters and announces @realDonaldTrump is coming to the podium for the first time. He does. He speaks. No questions. pic.twitter.com/X8h5h7xHxR
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) January 3, 2019
Former senior admin officials have often said POTUS marvels at tweeting and changing the cable chyrons. Today, instead of a tweet, he went to the podium. https://t.co/nfllVbg1UD
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 3, 2019
Meanwhile, the government remains shutdown. Both sides know there will have to be a compromise at some point. Who gives in first?
