Donald Trump is heading for Pittsburgh on Tuesday despite the requests of the mayor, local Jewish leaders, the families of the victims, and tens of thousands who signed a letter telling him to stay away. But since Trump insists that everything be about Trump, he’s determined to come anyway, interfering as communities try to mourn and shocked families attempt to plan funerals.
It was already clear that Trump had asked multiple political leaders to provide cover for him on this trip — that included Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, as well as House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Pennsylvania state officials. Trump found no takers.
But as Howard Fineman reports, Trump didn’t just try to get someone to go with him to a place where no one wanted him. He also lied to them in the effort.
“Hello, Nancy? Why don’t you come with me to Pittsburgh and show, what’s that thing? Unity. Chuck is going. No?”
“Hello, Chuck? ...”
Honestly, there doesn’t seem to be a moment of this story where Trump can’t dig out some new layer of dishonesty. And in this case, Trump is not fooling anyone. Not only did the Senate and House leadership turn him down, but the mayor, the county executive, and the governor have all refused to meet Trump when he arrives.
Trump is scheduled to leave Washington, D.C., at 2:30 ET. That leaves plenty of time to call Devin Nunes. He’s probably waiting by the phone.