Trump Changes Tune: Praises Nielsen For ‘Fabulous Job’ At Press Conference

on October 12, 2017 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) applauds as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Kirstjen Nielsen (R) looks on during a nomination announcement at the East Room of the White House October 1... WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) applauds as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Kirstjen Nielsen (R) looks on during a nomination announcement at the East Room of the White House October 12, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Trump has nominated Nielsen to be the next homeland security secretary, the position that has left vacant by Chief of Staff John Kelly. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

In a rare move, President Donald Trump praised his secretary of homeland security Tuesday, saying that she did a “fabulous job” at a Monday press conference about the administration’s policy of separating families at the border.

Recent reports have catalogued Trump’s rage with Nielsen, who he considers to be too soft on immigration, and a feckless Bush administration holdover. He has been unhappy with her nearly since the beginning of her tenure when he flagellated her at a Cabinet meeting in an episode some attendees called “the most uncomfortable scene they have witnessed in their professional lives.”

In addition, her horse is tethered to Chief of Staff John Kelly’s wagon, as Kelly pushed hard for her nomination and considers her a “surrogate daughter.” Trump is perennially displeased with Kelly, who has taken to spending his days at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building gym rather than trying to rein in the human tornado of Trump.

Latest Livewire
36
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Another day, another dignity wraith. She’s going on the ash heap of history sooner rather than later. Good riddance!

  2. A li’l bit OT, but gay Pennsylvania state representative Brian Sims had a message for visiting vice-president and albino cyborg Mike Pence:

    "So…get bent, then get out!"

    Dearest, me! I surely hope Mother didn’t wet her Episcopalian Panties!

  3. I see the toddlers panicked and crying, lost and separated from their parents - and I see Trump, whining, angry, lost and separated from his sense of supremacy. Only difference is, I feel deep sadness and compassion for the toddler. For the Toddler in Chief, I feel deep loathing and I pray that his anguish continues.
    But then I think… I’m so happy the small child doesn’t have nuclear weapons.

  4. Being an bald-faced liar devoid of any integrity, is all it takes these days to get this boss’s approval. Well done, Neilsen. Welcome back into the fascist fold and cult of tRump. Now just don’t do anything crazy, like grow a conscience or anything, or you’ll be thrown out on your ear if you do.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

30 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for acadia Avatar for srfromgr Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for cervantes Avatar for oscarhomolka Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for bboerner Avatar for riverstreet Avatar for decay500 Avatar for gailefranz Avatar for clauscph Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for ggus Avatar for erik_t Avatar for davidn Avatar for quickq Avatar for yellowbeard Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for haddockbranzini

Continue Discussion
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: