The day after the night before: Trump caps fractious post-midterm press conference by firing attorney general Jeff Sessions
President has lost the House of Representatives, but remains bullish about his ability to implement ‘Maga’ agenda
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump capped a fraught midterm election period by firing his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, in a move that immediately provoked fear he may move against the Russia investigation headed by special counsel Robert Mueller.
The US president spent the day after the night before sparring with journalists in a rare set-piece press conference at the White House. The Republican, who appeared tired and on a short fuse, told one reporter to “just sit down” and called him “the enemy of the people” as he was grilled for some 90 minutes after his party lost control of the House of Representatives.
Nonetheless, Mr Trump sought to portray the GOP’s showing as a historic success, with candidates having prevailed in an unusual number of Senate races, he said. In one closely-watched contest, the Texas incumbent Ted Cruz narrowly defeated Beto O’Rourke, the Democrat darling of social media, who observers later tipped as a possible candidate for president in 2020.
During his news conference Mr Trump appeared to extend an olive branch to Democrats, with whom he said he believed his Republican colleagues could produce “a lot” of legislation, particularly on infrastructure. He has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to modernise crumbling elements of the US’ road system and for improvements in other areas.
But he said that bipartisan working would be contingent on his opponents refraining from opening a string of investigations into his affairs. Democrats have already said they plan to do just that, probing the president’s tax returns, alleged conflicts of interest and other sore points now that they control several influential House committees.
Mr Trump’s first public appearance following the polls veered wildly from outright conflict with the media to praising incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi and envisioning peace, love and harmony among politicians and their constituents – pointing the finger at journalists for having sown division in the past.
The president hit out at CNN‘s Jim Acosta in particular after the reporter questioned him first over his rhetoric on immigration and then on Mr Mueller’s investigation. Mr Trump told Mr Acosta, who at times spoke over him and refused to relinquish his microphone, that “CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them”.
He also berated a black reporter for asking a “racist question” about his decision to declare himself a nationalist. Mr Trump was asked by Yamiche Alcindor, of PBS Newshour, whether his rhetoric had “emboldened” white nationalists. Mr Trump said that “it’s a very racist question” and that “it’s a very terrible thing you said to me”, adding: ”I don’t believe it ... why do I have my highest numbers with African-Americans?”
As reporters gathered themselves following the marathon press conference, another bombshell dropped – Jeff Sessions had resigned at the president’s request. The attorney general’s sacking came after months of very public vitriol directed his way by Mr Trump, who was incensed by the former Alabama senator’s decision to recuse himself from oversight of Mr Mueller’s probe into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign for president and Russia.
“Since the day I was honoured to be sworn in as attorney general of the United States, I came to work at the Department of Justice every day determined to do my duty and serve my country,” Mr Sessions wrote in his resignation letter.
His departure – televised and made while surrounded by applauding colleagues including his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, and his successor, Matthew Whitaker – sparked warnings of a “constitutional crisis”. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and others warned Mr Trump not to move against Mr Mueller now that Mr Sessions was out of the way.
See below how we covered the midterms, and the aftermath, live
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He asks himself the question - what have I learned about his own popularity? "I've learned that I was very well received."
He is now going through some of his successes: the economy and building up the military.
Speaking about the midterms again - Mr Trump says it was a "tremendous success".
Mr Trump concludes by saying “hopefully the tone can get a lot better but I really believe it begins with the media. We used to call it the press.”
Last question from the media: does it begin with you Mr President?
“I do have the right to fight back... I’m fighting back not for me, I’m fighting back for the people of this country.”
Speaking directly after Mr Trump, Democratic leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi is now speaking.
She starts by saying that healthcare was the issue in the midterms and "healthcare won".
As well as Jim Acosta President Trump is asked by Yamiche Alcindor of PBS Newshour, an African American reporter whether the Republican party has supported white nationalists. He s “it’s a very racist question” and calls the reporter a “terrible person.”
Mr Trump was asked about some people seeing him aligning his party with white nationalists, Mr Trump responded "I don't believe it... why do I have my highest numbers with African-Americans?"
Ms Pelosi said the main priority for Democrats will be restoring confidence to the US government.
"We will drain the swamp of dark interest money in our elections," Pelosi said at the press conference. "Because when we do, Americans have greater confidence in everything their Congress works on, from health care to taxes to guns to clean air to clean water for our children, when they know that the people's interest will prevail."
Ms Pelosi said the Tuesday's midterm elections results reflected a "great day for America."
Mr Trump and the GOP have centered their platform on immigration reform, but Democrats like Ms Pelosi have centered their rhetoric to issues regarding health care.
"The biggest winner yesterday was health care for the American people, for our seniors, and for American families," Pelosi added. "We won because from the beginning we focused on health care," she said.
Ms Pelosi said she is looking forward to seek "bipartisanship," particularly working with Mr Trump.
The House Democratic Leader spoke about her experience working with then-President George W. Bush.
"I worked very productively with President Bush when we had the majority and he had the presidency," Ms Pelosi said, referring to the time when she was first-elected House Speaker in 2006.
Ms Pelosi said the House of Representatives has a "a constitutional responsibility to have oversight," but Democrats will not partake in "scattershot freelancing" when it comes to investigations into the Trump administration.
"When we go down any of these paths, we'll know what we're doing, and we'll do it right," Ms Pelosi said, before calling to "unify" the country.
Several Democrats have publicly spoken against Ms Pelosi's bid for House Speaker. Others—like Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio—also hinted at challenging Ms Pelosi for the leadership position.
"It's not about what you have done, it's about what you can do. And I think I'm the best person to go forward to unify, to negotiate," she said.
The reaction to Donald Trump's press conference has ranged from outright shock to total support for the president and his controversial messaging, including from Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who lambasted the press after the Wednesday afternoon event.
"It’s apparent to me the White House press corps lives in a bubble and the way they are conducting themselves today will do NOTHING to improve their standing with the American people," the South Carolina senator tweeted Wednesday.
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