President George W. Bush’s former press secretary says President Trump is making it too difficult for Republicans to defend him against allegations of collusion with Russia.
“The president has given Republicans pause before they jump into the foxhole with him,” Fleischer said on Fox News.
He said Republicans on Thursday failed to offer a vigorous defense of Trump during former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony, and said that’s partly because Trump’s popularity numbers are relatively low. But he also said it’s also partly Trump’s fault and few Republicans leap to his defense.
“I think the message that the president has got to get is, if he wants people in his foxhole who will pound the table and defend him, don’t make it hard for those people,” he said.
.@AriFleischer: Republicans didn’t defend Pres. Trump yesterday, and it’s the president’s fault in a large part. pic.twitter.com/aJp4OAQJ36
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) June 9, 2017
“The two tweets about Barack Obama wiretapping Trump Tower and then the tapes about Comey give Republicans on the Hill pause,” Fleischer said. “They’re not sure how far to go to defend him.”
Just moments earlier, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, accused House Republican leaders of leaving Trump in the lurch by not scheduling any work on Friday. He said that makes it harder for Republicans to point to progress on their legislative agenda, and allows the media and others to focus on the Comey testimony.
“We’re basically leaving the president to dangle,” Gohmert said.
