CNN’s Dana Bash called Pres. Trump’s first on-camera reaction to the dismissal of his staff secretary Rob Porter, following accusations by Porter’s two ex-wives that he abused them, “tone-deaf to the times” and “tone-deaf to the situation.”
Among other things Trump said he wished Porter well, said “he worked very hard,” hoped that he has “a wonderful career,” and finished by reminding people that Porter “says he’s innocent.”
That didn’t sit well with Bash who gave some context to the president’s comments. “The president tends to rally around the person being accused because he has told many a friend this, because he felt like he has been falsely accused.”
Having said that, the fact that he did not mention one word, one syllable, about these two women, plus apparently an ex-girlfriend, who are talking in great detail about abuse, physical, verbal abuse, is outrageous. I mean, I’m sorry, it just is. It just is. And it is tone-deaf to the times, it is tone-deaf to the situation that he has had, which is a person who has been in the closest proximity possible to this man alleged to have done some pretty horrible things. We’ve seen the pictures, but more importantly, we have heard from his ex-wives. To not even have a nod to that and instead just profusely, effusively praise the work that Porter did, it’s sad.
Here are Trump’s comments:
President Trump on resigning White House staff secretary Rob Porter: "He says he’s innocent and I think you have to remember that… We absolutely wish him well." pic.twitter.com/4gwBSWpPlw
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 9, 2018