‘Why Are They Always So Loyal?’ Trump Was Convinced That Dems Would Cave

Presumptive Speaker, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and US President Donald Trump argue before a meeting at the White House December 11, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (... Presumptive Speaker, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and US President Donald Trump argue before a meeting at the White House December 11, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump saw his convictions about loyalty upended over the shutdown, harboring shock that Democrats didn’t come over to his side and resentment that he couldn’t keep his own house in order.

According to a Friday Washington Post report, Trump had been operating under the belief that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) would be unable to keep her caucus in line as the shutdown progressed.

“Why are they always so loyal?” he reportedly complained in a staff meeting.

Trump also miscalculated the will of his own party, and voiced belated frustration with former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) for having “screwed him” by not securing wall funding when Republicans controlled all branches before he’d “gone fishing.”

Ultimately, the defection of six Republican senators who voted for the Democratic funding bill put Trump over the edge.

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) dropped the bomb that his members were getting unruly; Trump eventually agreed that the shutdown had to end.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. The fat, naked emperor wonders why no one else was accused of having no clothes.

  2. Avatar for dv01 dv01 says:

    Dear Donnie, this is what happens when adults are in the room.

    Why don’t you go watch TV in the basement with you imaginary friends.

  3. He simply isn’t capable of understanding his role in his shutdown.

  4. Fredo is concerned about loyalty to him. Har-de-har, har, har.

    When Mike asks you to go fishing, think about it a bit, Fredo.

  5. “Trump had been operating under the belief that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) would be unable to keep her caucus in line as the shutdown progressed.”

    Madam Speaker:

    “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and oppose Trump’s childish Wall and not lose a single member.”

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

387 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for xpurg8d Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for jimtoday Avatar for randyabraham Avatar for inversion Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for ignoreland Avatar for darcy Avatar for careysub Avatar for tena Avatar for georgemilquetoast Avatar for henk Avatar for daulphin Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for tpr Avatar for katscherger Avatar for aiddon Avatar for ohcomeonnow Avatar for zillacop Avatar for outis Avatar for captain_america Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
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: