Trump flashes anger over Sessions recusal, Russia stories in tense Oval Office meeting

ABC News ^ | 4 Mar 17 | Jonathon Karl and Chris Vlasto

[SkyPilot]

Before heading off to his so-called "winter White House" in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, President Donald Trump summoned some of his senior staff to the Oval Office and went "ballistic," senior White House sources told ABC News.

The president erupted with anger over the latest slew of news reports connecting Russia with the new administration -- specifically the abrupt decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign.

Sources said the president felt Sessions' recusal was unnecessary and only served to embolden Trump's political opponents. The attorney general made his announcement Thursday just as Trump returned to Washington from a trip to the U.S.S. Gerald Ford in Virginia for a speech about his agenda as president.

Hours earlier, aboard the ship, the president had told reporters that he had "total" confidence in Sessions and saw no reason why the attorney general should recuse himself.

“We should have had a good week. We should have had a good weekend. But once again, back to Russia," a senior White House official said, expressing the frustration simmering in the West Wing following the news earlier in the week that Sessions failed to disclose during his confirmation process that he had met with the Russian ambassador twice during the election campaign. Sessions at the time was a senator on the Armed Services Committee and was also helping the Trump campaign.

Among those gathered in the Oval Office on Friday: Chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, White House Counsel Don McGahn, press secretary Sean Spicer, newly-hired Communications Director Mike Dubke, along with Trump son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump, the sources said.

[SkyPilot]

...specifically the abrupt decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign. Sources said the president felt Sessions' recusal was unnecessary and only served to embolden Trump's political opponents.

Trump tweeted this morning that his residence and office at Trump Tower (where his wife and son also live) had been bugged through Obama's orders.

If true, this is perhaps the biggest political scandal in American history.

And Sessions recused himself unnecessarily on Friday regarding bogus charges about "meeting" with the Russian ambassador.

That was not a tactical blunder, it was a strategic disaster for the Trump White House.

I pray that God intervenes and brings Obama and his thugs to justice.

[petitfour]

Sessions cannot oversee an investigation of something that involved himself. He was wire tapped, too.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

If this account is true, who leaked the story to the press?

[petitfour]

That’s my logical conclusion which might be wrong.

[dp0622]

HE DID IT WITHOUT TALKING TO TRUMP?!?!?!?

He MUST know any other attorney can be bought!!!!!

[HarleyLady27]

Well this article was written by ABC, take it for what it’s worth...

[stylin19a]

If true, how does Sessions not run this by Trump first ? or can he ?

[dp0622]

SESSIONS JUST HANDED THE DEMS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET THIS HANG AROUND FOREVER.

Trump is going to have to start throwing a lot of body and rabbit punches.

Which i’m sure he will.

WTF is wrong with Sessions?!!!

What do they have something on him too, to fold so easily?

[nopardons]

It was a complete and utter disaster and unnecessary to boot.

If the ONLY thing you have, to combat this mess, is a belief that GOD is going to step in, you're in big trouble.

Yes, I believe in God; but he doesn't do much to stop horrible things; just look at WWI, WWII, etc. in the 20th century.

[RummyChick]

Many here expressed what trump did...

So now who leaked this info.

I dont like Rove’s man being given access but this type of leak started before him

[Grampa Dave]

Before heading off to his so-called “winter White House” in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, President Donald Trump summoned some of his senior staff to the Oval Office and went “ballistic,” senior White House sources told ABC News.

Junk and fake news.

This only happened in the drugged out wet dreams the ABC liars.

“Some of his senior staff” is not really a valid news source.

[SkyPilot]

Sessions fed the alligator, hoping they would eat him last.

He should not have recused himself. Not only does it weaken Trump, it emboldened the enemy.

When will they learn? You never CNN, the Demonrats, Wired.com, etc. are all claiming Trump tweeted this incredible charge with "no evidence."

I know Trump must have an open and shut case. Where this goes from here....I just don't know.

[MNDude]

What? Sessions set all that without approval of Trump?? Hopefully this is fake news.

[madison10]

Wondering about the truth AND who did leak this? Are we not running out of suspects?

Is this about timing? IF,IF they were still bugging the Tower after the campaign all is not lost. Maybe the President should not have mentioned it so soon, though. I would be so angry at Sessions if he jumped the gun.

[Just mythoughts]

Who are the ‘sources’?

[SkyPilot]

If this account is true, who leaked the story to the press?

The story seem legit. Reporters even witnessed an angry exchange on the South Lawn as Trump awaited to board Marine One. He kicked Priebus and Bannon off the manifest and told them to stay in DC. ABC confirmed they had been removed from the trip to Florida with Trump.

I believe it.

[RummyChick]

Trump...you need to set the trap for preibus to see if he is the leaker.

[volunbeer]

Sessions cannot oversee an investigation of something that involved himself. He was wire tapped, too.

---

Correct, but I have not heard anything that indicates that Sessions was “wiretapped”. If Sessions called in and had a conference call or conversation with Trump campaign officials and they listed to that they would have also been wiretapping a member of the Senate. Very serious stuff, but you are making a connection that I have not seen anywhere.

Sessions was a surrogate for Trump and he is a cabinet member so he would have to recuse himself no matter what. Surely the President understands this?

With that said, Sessions created the appearance that he folded under the fake news pressure so I can see why Trump is upset. It was not enough to recuse himself - they immediately started calling for his resignation after the recusal they demanded was granted. In that sense, it was poor politics even if it were legally correct.

Trump seems to understand the same truth that all of us observe - you can’t give an inch to the left and their minions. The left has perfected the art of political witchhunts.

[COUNTrecount]

Trump meeting with Sessions tonight at Mar A Lago!

[P-Marlowe]

Who leaked this story?