| | | | When did Trump's 'erosion of trust' with Flynn happen? | | President Donald Trump asked national security adviser Mike Flynn to quit last night after an "erosion of trust" stemming from Flynn's denial -- or inability to remember -- that he had spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador before the new administration took office, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said today.
The question we're now asking: What suddenly changed? We know Trump was told of Flynn's conversations on January 26. He didn't fire him then.
There's only one new data point we're aware of between January 26 and last night: The Washington Post revealed the details of Flynn's conversation -- details Trump already knew -- in a blockbuster story.
Spicer said there had been "a series of other questionable instances" in Flynn's conduct that led to Trump losing confidence in him but he did not elaborate on what they were. "The level of trust between the President and Gen. Flynn had eroded to the point where he felt he had to make a change," Spicer told reporters Tuesday during his daily briefing. "The President was very concerned that Gen. Flynn had misled the vice president and others." | | What's next on Capitol Hill? CNN's Tom LoBianco emails: It would be safe to count on the Republican-led Senate to investigate the extent of Flynn's communications with Russia as part of their ongoing investigations. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said he wanted an investigation into Flynn, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called one "highly likely." But there are still questions about the scope of such an inquiry, who would lead it and whether Flynn would testify. Senate Democrats have argued that a separate, independent panel should be put together to look at Flynn's actions. Republicans have batted down the idea of an independent panel, but some have said they would like to see Flynn testify.
An against-the-grain perspective from Bloomberg's Eli Lake: "The point here is that for a White House that has such a casual and opportunistic relationship with the truth, it's strange that Flynn's 'lie' to Pence would get him fired. It doesn't add up."
The 30,000-foot view, from The Washington Post's Dan Balz: "Trump's campaign was never entirely smooth, but instincts that served him so well then appear to be less helpful now that he is in office. As president, Trump's early moves -- with some exceptions -- have been marked by poor judgment, botched execution, hubris among some advisers and a climate of fear and disorder all around."
Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow morning: CNN's Dylan Byers has an in-depth profile of Spicer coming. | | "The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation in a series of other questionable instances is what led the President to ask for Gen. Flynn's resignation." -- White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer at today's press briefing. | | | | Hillary Clinton weighed in on Mike Flynn's ouster -- and the propensity of both Flynn and his son to pick up false conspiracy theories -- by retweeting former aide Philippe Reines' reference to the bogus #Pizzagate Internet rumors that Flynn's son advanced. The elder Flynn had quietly deleted his own tweet about the conspiracy theory in December. | | Trump and Netanyahu set to meet with big question marks | | From CNN's Jeremy Diamond: As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the White House on Wednesday, he'll be meeting with a US President who hasn't quite decided what his administration's policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will look like. "I think they don't know yet," a source with knowledge of the policy deliberations told CNN. The source added that Trump's White House appears to be moving toward aligning its Israel policy with George W. Bush's, and that if Netanyahu expects detailed assurances Wednesday, he's likely to be "disappointed."
Inside the White House's Israel deliberations: The UAE's ambassador to the United States has been "very influential" in the White House's fleshing out of its Israel policy, urging the administration to moderate its stance from Trump's campaign rhetoric, the source said. As a result, the White House has moderated its stance on two key issues: moving the embassy to Jerusalem and settlements. "They've confronted the reality of the situation and the complexity of the situation for the first time," the source said. "What clearly happened was he heard from the Arabs, which had not happened prior to his victory." | | Trump's next confirmation squeaker: Andy Puzder | | President Donald Trump has seen Senate Republicans overcome fierce Democratic opposition to controversial nominees like Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. But Andy Puzder, his nominee for Labor secretary, could be even more difficult.
CNN's Ted Barrett emails:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is making an all-out push to get Puzder confirmed, even convening a meeting recently in his office with all GOP members of the Senate labor committee to shore up support for the embattled nominee.
Four Republicans say they haven't made up their minds. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina each is waiting to hear Puzder's testimony before deciding whether to vote for him.
His path to confirmation got complicated when it was revealed he hired an undocumented household employee and had to pay back taxes for that person. Puzder also had to defend himself against charges of abusing his ex-wife. Senators even reviewed a decades-old "Oprah" show on which his former wife, who has since recanted her charges, appeared.
GOP leadership aides tell CNN they are confident Puzder will get confirmed. But it's likely to take a few weeks of uncertainly until his nomination gets to the floor for a final vote. | | | Vice President Mike Pence was spotted holding flowers for Valentine's Day at a Whole Foods in Washington this morning. And he wasn't the only Washington politician celebrating the holiday. | | 6 things you might have missed today | | 1. Investigate Conway? The Office of Government Ethics is suggesting the White House take disciplinary action against Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to President Donald Trump, for endorsing Ivanka Trump's products in a TV interview. Already, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Conway had been "counseled" against doing so in the future. More from CNNMoney's Jill Disis.
2. No money, no wall: Conservatives in the House are already sending a message to Trump: If you want us to give you your wall, tell us how you will pay for it. "If all of a sudden we're not worried about pay-fors for our spending, then we have been hypocrites for six years," said Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho. More from CNN's Tal Kopan.
3. No, Democrats aren't being paid to attend town halls -- despite claims by Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Spicer. Eric and MJ Lee explain.
4. Chaffetz is probing Trump's security protocols at Mar-a-Lago after Trump conducted some of his response to the weekend's North Korean missile test in a public dining room, per Politico's Kyle Cheney.
5. Secret Service chief retires: United States Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy announced his retirement to the staff today, a spokesperson told CNN. There were reports of tension between the Secret Service and the private security team that has protected Trump for years, but Clancy rejected that. More from CNN's Mary Kay Mallonee, Jim Acosta and Kevin Liptak.
6. DNC chairman race update: Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez tells Politico's Gabe Debenedetti he has 180 of the 224 votes he needs to become the next DNC chairman. The election is a week from Saturday in Atlanta. | | | First lady Melania Trump announced the White House visitor office will reopen after some pressure from GOP lawmakers. ... Chelsea Clinton announced an eight-stop book tour for her book, "It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going." ... President Donald Trump broadcast dangerous misconceptions about autism rates today. ... White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump had a productive meeting with Canadian Prime Minister "Joe" Trudeau. (His name is Justin Trudeau.) | | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Check out Five Things for Your New Day, CNN's morning newsletter. Give us five minutes, and we'll brief you on all the news and buzz people will be talking about. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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