WaPo: Trump Complains About Pruitt In Private, Even As He Praises Him In Public

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 3: (AFP-OUT) President Donald Trump speaks during a luncheon with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on April 3, 2018 at The White House in Washington, DC. The President answered questions from the media about illegal immigration from Mexico and relations with Russia. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 3: (AFP-OUT) President Donald Trump speaks during a luncheon with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on April 3, 2018 at The White House in Washington, DC. The President answered ques... WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 3: (AFP-OUT) President Donald Trump speaks during a luncheon with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on April 3, 2018 at The White House in Washington, DC. The President answered questions from the media about a wide range of issues including illegal immigration from Mexico and relations with Russia. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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President Donald Trump said on Thursday afternoon that he still has confidence in scandal-plagued Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, but behind closed doors, Trump has complained about Pruitt, the Washington Post reported Thursday night.

Advisers told the Washington Post that Trump has complained about Pruitt for several days, but that he has resisted advice from his top advisers to fire Pruitt. White House advisers’ concern about Pruitt increased this week with the news that he circumvented the White House to give large raises to two of his top aides, according to the Washington Post.

As the ethical questions surrounding Pruitt increase, the White House has given mixed signals on the EPA administrator’s future. Two communications officials at the White House have offered vague comments on Pruitt this week suggesting that the White House is unhappy with Pruitt, and chief of staff John Kelly is reportedly frustrated with the EPA administrator. Yet, Trump still publicly stands behind Pruitt.

Read the Washington Post’s full report here.

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  1. Well, there it is. The official kiss of death leak. Time to start the betting.

    Who do you think replaces him? My money is on Don Blankenship.

  2. As the ethical questions surrounding Pruitt increase, the White House has given mixed signals on the EPA administrator’s future

    Until Vlad weighs in, we won’t know which way the white house will go

  3. Avatar for sanni sanni says:

    Yet other reports also indicate Trump was floating the idea of replacing Sessions with Pruitt earlier this week. And he really wants to get rid of Sessions. Then again, keeping Pruitt as more and more stories of corruption leak and tumble out into the media in a growing storm, makes Trump look bad. Oh what is an impulsive, corrupt, narcissist to do? Perhaps Fox and Friends will give him instructions this morning.

    Side note from the WaPo - Psst, Gov. Bevins - quoting Spiro Agnew is never a good move. He wasn’t terribly successful on the national stage.

  4. I swear it’s fodder for a Cosmo quiz: Peachy, or impeachable? Take our five-question Toxic Prez quiz and find out if he’s the ruination of the nation!

  5. And Republicans leaders in Congress, of course, are quick to take action to enforce the high ethical standards they demand (of Democrats). They spew so much faux outrage at Democrats over nothing, yet cannot seem to work up even a bit of public disappointment over the rampant corruption and illegalities of this administration.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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