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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Jeff Sessions has resigned as the US Attorney General the day after the 2018 midterms. His resignation was submitted to the president and reported Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Sessions had been expected to depart from the White House administration shortly after the election, as numerous outlets reported the president was not satisfied with his pick to lead the Justice Department.
It appears obvious Donald Trump had requested Jeff Sessions to resign almost immediately after the midterm elections.
Here's what the new acting attorney general wrote last year, claiming Robert Mueller's investigation had gone "too far" -
Yamiche Alcindor, the reporter who Donald Trump accused of asking a “racist” question during today’s press conference, has responded on Twitter by saying, “I’ve personally interviewed white nationalists who say they are more excited by President Trump than other presidents in the past.”
She adds, “Even if President Trump doesn’t intend it, some see him as directly appealing to racists.”
CNN has released this statement in response to Donald Trump's press conference earlier this afternoon:
At least one congressional race in Texas is still too close to call after a bizarre series of events last night in which Democratic newcomer Gina Ortiz Jones appeared to best Will Hurd after the election results had already been called.
After an apparent polling error in a single district, it now appears the Republican incumbent has kept his lead by nearly 600 votes. But Gina's campaign has released a statement saying it will wait until every single vote is counted - possibly paving the way for an official recount (which she is in the margin to demand). Here's what she represents to the district:
Pod Save America’s Tommy Vietor suggested the president was using the press conference to distract from the election results, after Democrats regained control of the House.
He wrote on Twitter, “Trump wants to make the story him vs the media not him getting his ass kicked in the House. This press conference is playing right into that narrative.”
Several analysts have noted Donald Trump appears to be laying the groundwork for his defence against numerous investigations Democrats could launch now that they have regained the House during his bizarre press conference Wednesday afternoon:
Reports indicate Trump could be cleaning house after the 2018 midterms, beginning with Jeff Sessions who the president was upset with for his recusal in the federal investigation into Russia's impact on the 2016 election.
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