Trump Cracks And Accidentally Admits That He Asked Comey For Loyalty

During a joint press conference with the president of Romania, Donald Trump accidentally admitted that he asked for Comey’s loyalty as he denied making the request of the former FBI Director.

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ABC’s Jon Karl got to ask Trump about Comey’s testimony that Trump asked for his loyalty.

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The President’s answer was a denial, and then a backdoor admission.

Trump said, “I didn’t say that. I will tell you I didn’t say that, and there would be nothing wrong if I did say that according to everybody that I’ve read today, but I did not say that.”

Look at Trump’s statement carefully. He starts off with the strong, clear denial, “I didn’t say that” but then he adds a phrase that negates his denial. The President added, “and there would be nothing wrong if I did say that.” Realizing that he just admitted that he did say that by offering up a defense, Trump doubles back to his original strong statement, “but I did not say that.”

A person who really didn’t say that doesn’t have to add, and if I did say that, there would be nothing wrong. Trump felt the need to try to cover himself with an admission wrapped in a denial.

Trump said it, and unintentionally confirmed a key part of Comey’s testimony as true.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association