His popularity is at historic lows and a majority legislative priority is in jeopardy. But President Donald Trump put on a confident face Monday, praising a proposal that has many calling him hypocritical. Josh Robin filed the following report.
The president says he can put out fires. But political flames have only been rising. And the gravest remains Russia.
Last week, Donald Trump Jr. admitted taking a meeting with a Russian lawyer and others during the campaign. It was billed as explicit help from Moscow.
The Trump defense has shifted. First, collusion never happened. Now, it's all entirely normal.
The president tweeted:
Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent. That's politics!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2017
But Christopher Wray, Trump's pick for FBI director, has said foreign offers should be reported, not accepted.
"Any threat or effort to interfere with our election, from any nation state or any non-state actor, is the kind of thing the FBI would want to know," Wray said.
Top White House aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner was also there. Reportedly, Kushner recently filed required security forms, adding names of more than 100 foreign contacts he omitted.
Kushner's spokesman didn't return an email.
Democratic senators are asking for a federal review. They write, "Given Mr. Kushner's pattern of delay in reporting contacts, we are deeply concerned that he may not have disclosed additional contacts with foreign individuals or had other inappropriate Russian contacts."
Scandal swirling, the president Monday pushed American products.
"Clearly, it's time for a new policy, one defined by two simple rules: we will buy American, and we will hire American," Trump said.
But clearly, that hasn't applied to the Trump family business. For instance, a Donald J. Trump signature collection tie is Made in China.
The White House says he wants to make it easier to manufacture here.