Washington Post Report Fuels Chaos In White House | The Last Word

>>> EVEN BEFORE TONIGHT'S BIG "WASHINGTON POST" STORY THAT
DONALD TRUMP REVEALED CLASSIFIED INFORMATION TO RUSSIAN
DIPLOMATS, THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE WAS WIDELY REPORTED TO BE IN
CHAOS. TAKE THIS AXIOS REPORT FROM LATE
IN THE WEEKEND THAT TRUMP IS CONSIDERING A HUGE REBOOT WITH
ONE CONFIDANTE SAYING HE IS FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY AT
EVERYONE. A SEPARATE REPORT IN POLITICO
TODAY DESCRIBES A WHITE HOUSE WHERE AIDES DELIBERATELY EXPLOIT
FAKE NEWS ARTICLES TO TRICK PRESIDENT TRUMP.
BUT THE REPORTS OUT TONIGHT ARE THAT IT WAS TRUMP HIMSELF, NOT
HIS STAFF, DRIVING THIS CRISIS WITH THE ODD DISCLOSURE OF
CLASSIFIED MATERIAL TO RUSSIAN ADVERSARIES WHICH HAS THE SENATE
FOREIGN RELATIONS CHAIR SENATOR BOB CORKER CONCERNED WOULD BE
THE WORDS, SPIRAL AND CHAOS. >> OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE IN A
DOWNWARD SPIRAL RIGHT NOW. AND THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A
WAY TO COME TO GRIPS WITH ALL THAT'S HAPPENING.
THE CHAOS THAT IS BEING CREATED BY THE LACK OF DISCIPLINE IS
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT I THINK MAKES -- IT CREATES A
WORRISOME ENVIRONMENT. >> JOINING ME NOW IS JOSH
EARNEST, A FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY UNDER PRESIDENT
OBAMA AND AN ANALYST FOR US. AND PRESIDENT FOR THE AMERICAN
CENTER FOR PROGRESS AND FORMER AIDE TO HILLARY CLINTON.
JOSH, IS IT TIME TO WORRY? >> GOOD EVENING, ARI.
I THINK THIS LATEST REVELATION IS DEEPLY CONCERNING.
YOU HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO EITHER IS SO
UNDISCIPLINED THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP A SECRET, OR IS
IN SOME WAYS SO DESPERATE TO IMPRESS THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER AND THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR THAT HE FEELS LIKE HE
HAS TO BRAG ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED TO
HIM EVERY DAY. AND THAT WOULD BE WORRISOME
ENOUGH. WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT
INFORMATION THAT HAS REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE. WE'VE HEARD SENIOR
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALREADY
TALK ABOUT HOW GRAVE THE THREAT IS TO OUR CIVIL AVIATION SYSTEM
FROM THIS THREAT STEMMING FROM ISIL.
THIS WAS THE THREAT TRUMP WAS DISCUSSING.
THIS IS THE INTELLIGENCE STREAM THAT IS KEEPING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE SAFE RIGHT NOW. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
"THE WASHINGTON POST" HAS THIS REPORTING.
AND HERE IS SOME OF THE RESPONSE, JOSH, FROM INSIDE THE
WHITE HOUSE. COMMUNICATIONS STAFF AT THE
WHITE HOUSE, QUOTE, HIDING IN THEIR OFFICES.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO A SENIOR WHITE HOUSE AIDE AS A GAGGLE OF
WHITE HOUSE PRESS STORMED HALLWAYS AFTER THE STORY BROKE
MONDAY NIGHT. THAT'S TONIGHT.
DO NOT ASK ME HOW THIS STORY LOOKS.
WE ALL KNOW HOW THE STORY LOOKS. THE AIDE DESCRIBED THE SCENE AT
THE WHITE HOUSE AS TENSE AND AS A MORGUE.
IS THAT A SCENE YOU EVER SAW IN YOUR TIME OF THE WHITE HOUSE?
>> IT DOES NOT RING TRUE TO ME, ARI, IN TERMS OF WHAT MY
EXPERIENCE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
I THINK MOST WHITE HOUSE, AND THAT IS TRUE OF DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN WHITE HOUSES, THIS IS A PHRASE THAT WAS QUOTED BY
HARRY TRUMAN. THAT THE BUCK STHEERPS.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE KEEPS PASSING THE BUCK
ON THE OTHER PEOPLE. HE HAS THESE SELF-INFLICTED
CRISES THAT HE BLAMES ON STAFF. THESE INTEREST PEOPLE WHO ARE
THEN RESPONSIBLE FOR GOING AND CLEANING UP AFTER HIM.
WHAT THERE MEANS GENERAL McMASTER, SOMEONE ON HIS STAFF
HAVING TO CALL THE CIA DIRECTOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE NSA TO
TELL THEM THE PRESIDENT SCREWED UP OR SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE
PRESIDENT'S COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, SEAN SPICER OR SARAH HUCKABEE
SANDERS OR KELLYANNE CONWAY HAVING TO GO AND FACE THE MEDIA
TO TRY TO JUSTIFY OR RATIONALIZE OR EXPLAIN AWAY AN IRRESPONSIBLE
ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> NIRA, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD RUN THE PRESIDENT LIKE A
BUSINESS. IT WAS OBSERVED THEN THAT MANY
OF HIS BUSINESSES WENT BANKRUPT AND CEASED TO EXIST.
DO YOU FEEL THAT WE'RE SEEING TO SOME DEGREE THE BANKRUPTING OF
CORE PARTS OF THE WHITE HOUSE OPERATIONS OR IS THAT A BRIDGE
TOO FAR? >> YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS
MORE WORRISOME THAN RUNNING A GOVERNMENT -- RUNNING THE
GOVERNMENT LIKE A BUSINESS OR THINKING YOU'RE A CEO INSTEAD OF
A PRESIDENT. THE INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT
TODAY REALLY SHOWS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ESSENTIALLY
THREATENING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY BY ENSURING THAT ALLIES
WILL THINK TWICE, THREE TIMES, OR NEVER EVEN GIVE US
INFORMATION THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO KEEP AMERICANS
SAFE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO IS CHARGED WITH KEEPING
AMERICA SAFE FROM FOREIGN THREATS DECIDED TO SHARE
INFORMATION WITH A FOREIGN ADVERSARY EITHER TO BRAG OR DO
SOMETHING ELSE. I MEAN, LET'S REMEMBER, WE ONLY
KNOW ABOUT HIS MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR KISLYAK, WHO IS AT
THE CENTER OF THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION.
MIKE FLYNN CALLED HIM. JEFF SESSIONS TALKED TO HIM.
HE IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS. WE ONLY KNOW THIS BECAUSE
RUSSIAN MEDIA REPORTED IT OUT. HE DID NOT EVEN INFORM OUR PRESS
ABOUT THIS. THIS MEETING THAT HE HAD WAS
QUITE A DOOZY. JACK SAID IT'S WORRISOME.
AND WHETHER IT'S WORRIED, I THINK WORRIED IS AN
UNDERSTATEMENT FOR WHAT AMERICANS SHOULD BE AT WHAT'S
HAPPENED TODAY AND HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> SPEAK TO RUSSIA. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE
PHOTOS BACK UP. WHEN WE PUT UP THE PHOTOS HERE
OF THE PRESIDENT WITH THOSE OFFICIALS, VIEWERS WILL NOTICE
IN THE UPPER CORNER, ACCORDING TO THE ACCREDITATION WE ALWAYS
DO, WE HAVE TO CREDIT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONLY AVAILABLE PHOTOS OF THIS
MEETING. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THERE IS SOMETHING BEYOND WRONG HERE.
>> THE AMERICAN MEDIA WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES WAS MEETING WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR WHO
MIKE FLYNN LIED ABOUT TALKING TO, JEFF SESSIONS MESS LED THE
CONGRESS. SEEMS LIKE HE LIED IN TALKING TO
KISLYAK. THIS IS THE PERSON WHO IS,
AGAIN, AT THE CENTER OF WHAT THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION IS ABOUT.
THE PRESIDENT CHOSE TO MEET WITH THEM LAST WEEK.
DIDN'T INFORM THE AMERICAN MEDIA.
AND WE ONLY KNOW AT THE COURTESY OF RUSSIAN MED MEDIA WHO GOT A
OF MILEAGE. THE RUSSIANS GOT A LOT OF
MILEAGE OUT OF THIS MEETING APPARENTLY BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE
INFORMATION FROM A CORE ALLY IN WHICH THEY CAN DISCERN THINGS
THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DISCERN FROM US.
>> JOSH, IT'S EASY WITH DONALD TRUMP TO GET CAUGHT UP IN HIS
ENERGY, HIS ATTITUDE, AND REACTIONS TO HIM THAT ARE OFTEN
OBVIOUSLY OF A POLARIZED NATURE. I WOULD OBSERVE THAT THIS IS A
DISTURBING STORY THAT MERIT ACE TENSION IF IT HAPPENED BY ANY
PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO READ TO YOU THE
SPEAKER TELEPHONE HOUSE, WHO HAPPENS TO BE REPUBLICAN'S
RESPONSE BECAUSE IT SHOWS HOW UNPARTISAN THE CONCERN IS.
QUOTE WE HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT WAS SAID.
BUT PROTECTING OUR NATION'S SECRET IS PARAMOUNT.
THE SPEAKER HOPES FOR A FULL EXPLANATION OF THE FACTS FROM
THE ADMINISTRATION. THAT IS NOT A STATEMENT, JOSH,
IF YOU COULD DECODE IT FOR US, THAT SAYS WE TAKE THE NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISER AT HIS WORD OR THIS IS A DONE DEAL, CLOSED
ISSUE. IT SUGGESTS THAT THE FACTS
THEMSELVES ARE IN DOUBT TONIGHT. >> WELL, ARI, IT ALSO SUGGESTS
THERE AREN'T TOO MANY REPUBLICANS WHO ARE READY TO
LEAPAP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DEFENSE IN THIS PARTICULAR
SITUATION. AND THE TRUTH IS, HIS CONDUCT IN
THIS SITUATION, WHAT "THE WASHINGTON POST" IS REPORTING IS
TRUE IS INDEFENSIBLE. I CAN TELL YOU BASED ON MY
EXPERIENCE IN THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE, I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE
EXTENSIVE WORK THAT WENT IN ON A STAFF LEVEL TO PREPARE THE
PRESIDENT IN ADVANCE OF A MEETING WITH FOREIGN LEADERS.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS UNAWARE OF THE ISSUES.
IT'S BECAUSE IT REFLECTED JUST HOW IMPORTANT THOSE MEETINGS ARE
AND THOSE COMMUNICATIONS. AND IT WOULD INCLUDE CABINET
LEVEL OFFICIALS LIKE SECRETARIES OF STATE OF THE NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISER, BUT IT WOULD INCLUDE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
FROM A VARIETY OF AGENCIES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ON THE
FRONT END REQUIRED A LOT OF INVESTMENT OF THE STAFF'S TIME
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS PREPARED FOR THE MEETING.
IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THE WORK APPARENTLY COMES IN THE
BACK END IN CLEANING UP THE PRESIDENT'S MISTAKES FROM THE
MEETING. AND THAT'S A SITUATION THAT IS
DEEPLY HARMFUL TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, OR AT LEAST
THREATENING TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
AND YOU EVEN HAVE REPUBLICANS NOW ON CAPITOL HILL WHO ARE IN A
SITUATION WHO DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANSWERING FOR IT
EITHER. AND YOU CAN'T REALLY BLAME THEM.
>> RIGHT. AND TO YOUR POINT, IT MAY BUM
PEOPLE OUT. BUT THE FACT IS IT'S THE
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER TONIGHT THAT IS BEING PULLED
INTO WHAT SOME ARE CALLING POTENTIALLY THE SPIN RATHER THAN
THE FACTS. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP REPORTING ON
THE FACTS AND TRY TO GET

Washington Post Report Fuels Chaos In White House | The Last Word | MSNBC

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