Don’t Keep Him Waiting

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

As a friend noted last night, this Times article about Steve Bannon is as much about Mike Flynn as Bannon. It’s good news, bad news. Good news: Flynn is already being sidelined in his role as National Security Advisor. Bad news: he’s being supplanted by Steve Bannon.

Flynn already appears to be in the process of getting wraithed, the fate of nearly all Trump toadies and sycophants. Also notable, at least according to this article, Flynn’s main attraction for Trump was his fierce loyalty and how willing he was to vent his anger and rage at Hillary Clinton. But look at this little nugget, one tellingly denigrating leak about Flynn’s impulsiveness and immaturity.

Mr. Flynn’s penchant for talking too much was on display on Friday in a meeting with Theresa May, the British prime minister, according to two people with direct knowledge of the events.

When Mrs. May said that she understood wanting a dialogue with Mr. Putin but stressed the need to be careful, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Flynn when the two were scheduled to speak.

Mr. Flynn replied it was Saturday — he had delayed it to fit in Mrs. May’s meeting for “protocol” as a United States ally, adding at length that Mr. Putin was impatient to chat.

Mr. Trump, the person said, appeared irritated by the response.

Does this seem odd that Flynn was agitated because he had been forced to keep Mr Putin waiting? Not odd as in unexpected, mind you. Flynn has a distressingly pro-Russian orientation and, according to numerous press reports, is being scrutinized by US counter-intelligence over his communications with Russian officials. But still, odd as in not good.

Latest Editors' Blog
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: