Trump: Asking If I’d Pardon Michael Cohen Is A ‘Stupid Question’

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

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said it was a “stupid question” for a reporter to ask if he’d consider a pardon for his personal attorney, Michael Cohen.

“Are you considering a pardon for Michael Cohen,” a reporter was heard asking during a pool spray in the Oval Office, as Trump sat next to French President Emmanuel Macron.

“Stupid question,” Trump responded.

Cohen’s home, office and hotel were raided earlier this month as part of a months-long criminal probe. Trump called the raids “an attack on our country” and “a whole new level of unfairness.”

Trump has so far used his pardon power on two people: Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a close political ally, and former George W. Bush administration official Scooter Libby.

Both pardons raised questions about whether the President meant to broadcast his willingness to pardon political allies caught up in special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. On Saturday, Trump wrote that he was considering a pardon for the late boxer Jack Johnson.

This post has been updated. 

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Trump: Asking If I’d Pardon Michael Cohen Is A ‘Stupid Question

    Well, you’re a stupid person.

  2. …says the man who floated cancelling the election.

    … says the man who asked Comey if he looked like someone who needs hookers.

    I know I’m leaving something out…

  3. Stupid Presidents get Stupid questions
    We try and keep it simple for you Donny

  4. Avatar for fess fess says:

    Of course it’s a stupid question. He should have asked when Trump planned on pardoning Cohen.

  5. Of course it’s a stupid question. Instead, the reporter should have asked, “We all know from your Tweets that you never lie - just everyone else does, especially the “fake news” media like CNN and NBC. So, is that a real Renoir?”

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

77 more replies

Participants

Avatar for daled Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for playitagainrowlf Avatar for rfscalf Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for sysprog Avatar for jjwhack Avatar for ajileye Avatar for thx1138 Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for george_spiggott Avatar for trumpdog Avatar for Lacuna-Synecdoche Avatar for eastlansing Avatar for kahner Avatar for dickweed Avatar for moreyampersand Avatar for pshah Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for oistein Avatar for somethinghappened Avatar for maximus Avatar for eisenst Avatar for karlwlewis

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: