Here are some of the puzzling moments from Trump’s first solo news conference
On his 28th day in office, Donald Trump held his first solo news conference as president.
On his 28th day in office,
Here are some of the moments that stand out when it comes to topic or delivery:
I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan.
Trump won the election. He is, after all, president. Still, months after the results were final, he still routinely brings up and misstates the size of his win in the electoral college. In this exchange, a reporter points out that former
The reporter asks why the American public should trust Trump when he provides inaccurate information.
His answer: “I don’t know. I was given that information. I was given — I actually, I’ve seen that information around. But it was a very substantial victory, do you agree with that?â€
Russia is fake news.
Trump called the news media, in general, “fake†about 20 times during the course of his 90-minute presser. He also dodged the question about whether his campaign staff had connections to Russia, referring to the story as a fabrication.
Later, he said that he hadn’t “made a phone call to Russia in years,†adding, “I just have nobody to speak to.†Moments after that, he said Russian President Vladmir Putin had called him after he won the election and again after he was inaugurated.
Read the transcript: Everything President Trump had to say »
Nobody mentions that Hillary received the questions to the debates.
Another hot topic for Trump was
It’s common for a president to refer to the actions of the previous president and administration. It’s unusual for a new president to spend as much time, or more, talking about his former rival for the office.
Tomorrow, they will say, ‘Donald Trump rants and raves at the press.’ I’m not ranting and raving. I’m just telling you.
Trump knows how to make headlines.
Nuclear holocaust would be like no other.
When asked whether Putin was testing Trump, he said he did not believe so. He added that both the U.S. and Russia were “powerful nuclear countries,†which led him to this soundbite.
I’ve known her for a long time. She was a very successful person; she was a very successful model. She did really well.
Trump liked the question that led to this aside. He was asked about his wife,
Do you want to set up the meeting? Are they friends of yours?
Trump posed this question to April Ryan, an African American journalist with American Urban Radio Networks. She had asked the president if he would include the “CBC,†a reference to the Congressional Black Caucus, in his efforts to improve conditions in what Trump had referred to as the “inner cities.â€
Trump responded: “Am I going to include who?â€
When Ryan elaborated, asking specifically about the Congressional Black Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus, Trump asked her if she was friends with them and could set up the meeting.
His request came shortly after he told those gathered: “I am the least anti-Semitic person that you've ever seen in your entire life. Number two, racism, the least racist person.â€
Twitter: @cshalby
ALSO
Vice admiral turns down national security job
Read the transcript: Everything President Trump had to say
Appeals court says it is suspending further action on Trump travel ban
White House has found ways to end 'Dreamer' protections while shielding Trump from blowback
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
