Donald Trump’s stated reasons for withholding aid from Ukraine had gone a series of wild swings. When the aid was finally released in early September, the White House wouldn’t even comment on why it had been held. Weeks earlier there had been claims that Trump wanted a thorough military review of the aid—a review that was inconveniently already completed well before Trump put a hold on the aid. That gave way to statements from Trump this week that he held up the funds over concerns that corrupt Ukrainian leaders would just pocket the money. “Why would you give money to a country that you think is corrupt?” asked Trump.
But apparently the “corruption” excuse was a bit too close to the mark. In the same exchange where Trump said he held the money over potential corruption, he also noted that there would be “nothing wrong” with him insisting on an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden. Apparently there was corruption … only it was on the U.S. end of the phone. Which is maybe not the admission Trump’s team wants him making as the trickle of impeachment calls grows rapidly toward an unstoppable flood.
So on Wednesday, as he prepared to address the United Nations, Trump rolled out a brand-new excuse—blame it on Europeans. As The Guardian reports, Trump told reporters it wasn’t corruption concerns that held back the cash flow. It was his anger over those stingy Europeans. “I always ask,” said Trump, “why are other allies in Europe not putting up money for Ukraine?”
And I always ask “what excuse will he use next?” Not that it matters. Reminder: House Democrats are meeting in a special conference at 4 PM ET.