We’ve just finished a wild press availability with President Trump, Vice President Pence and Democratic leaders Pelosi and Schumer. This was clearly not something Trump was prepared for, as predictable as it was. There are a few takeaways. One is Schumer at the very end baiting Trump into defiantly insisting he’ll be “proud” to shut down the government. (“I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck.”) Another is Pelosi, steel without bluster, formidable in any circumstance but particularly for Trump who couldn’t seem to find either weakness or escalation. He would switch over to Schumer for a break. My tweeted blurbs for some of the clips are a bit flippant. But each captures a revealing moment in the increasingly combustible exchange. Clips after the jump.
Trump: "Tremendous amounts of wall have already been built." pic.twitter.com/mqkhl7u42A
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
Trump: "If I needed the votes for the wall in the house, I would have them in one session. It would be done."
Pelosi: "So go do it."
Josh: "Next two years are going to be amazing." pic.twitter.com/tNFmnnFjUl
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
Now Chuck slaps Trump around. pic.twitter.com/Bl5XCgybte
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
Trump: I WON THE SENATE pic.twitter.com/xKZqAKCGeV
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
Nancy and Chuck now tag-teaming Trump, notes his party got clobbered. pic.twitter.com/2ksLMWPbto
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
Good Lord, Chuck baits Trump into "proud to shut the government down" quotes, also Trump changes face Pantone from Grifty Orange to Boily Red on live video. pic.twitter.com/wk0RgbbuP8
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 11, 2018
