‘Why Are We Doing This?’: Trump Aides Don’t Understand McCain, Conway Attacks

LIMA, OH - MARCH 20: US President Donald J. Trump speaks at the Joint Systems Manufacturer on March 20, 2019 in Lima, Ohio. Trump visited the northeastern Ohio defense manufacturing plant to discuss his successes in the economy, job growth, John McCain and ISIS. (Photo by Andrew Spear/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Donald Trump
LIMA, OH - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald J. Trump speaks at the Joint Systems Manufacturer on March 20, 2019 in Lima, Ohio. Trump visited the northeastern Ohio defense manufacturing plant to discuss his successes i... LIMA, OH - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald J. Trump speaks at the Joint Systems Manufacturer on March 20, 2019 in Lima, Ohio. Trump visited the northeastern Ohio defense manufacturing plant to discuss his successes in the economy, job growth, John McCain, and ISIS. (Photo by Andrew Spear/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Trump’s aides are befuddled by his latest choice in nemeses.

According to a Wednesday Politico report, some close to Trump believe the President is hitting the late-Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and the husband of one of his most loyal aides to distract from criticism over his lukewarm response to the massacre in New Zealand and the controversy surrounding the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max jets.

Others are at a loss.

“It does not appear to be a great use of our time to talk about George Conway or dead John McCain. … Why are we doing this?” A White House official told Politico.

In the last 48 hours, Trump has publicly bashed White House counselor Kellyanne Conway’s husband George Conway twice for criticizing him on Twitter. Out of seemingly nowhere, Trump has also reignited his feud with McCain, who passed away nearly seven months ago from brain cancer.

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