Republican Senators Try To Save Trump’s Burning Presidency By Flat Out Lying

Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and David Perdue (R-GA) both lied about Trump using the word “shithole” to describe African countries during separate Sunday show interviews.

Video:

Transcript via CBS’s Face The Nation:

OHN DICKERSON: All right. Let’s move on to immigration. You were in the Oval Office meeting that’s gotten a lot of attention this week where the president reportedly used a vulgar and derogatory term. Also there was Senator Perdue. He talked to ABC This Week and I want to get your thoughts about what he said, what he told to George Stephanopoulos. Let’s watch.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Durbin has been very clear. Senator Graham has told others that the reports were basically accurate. Are you saying the president did not use the word that has been so widely reported?

DAVID PERDUE: I’m telling you he did not use that word, George. And I’m telling you it’s a gross misrepresentation. How many times you want me to say that?

JOHN DICKERSON: Senator, your view on the use of this one?

TOM COTTON: Yeah, John, I didn’t hear that word either. I certainly didn’t hear what Senator Durbin has said repeatedly. Senator Durbin has a history of misrepresenting what happens in White House meetings though, so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by that. Here’s what I did hear. And here is the point.

JOHN DICKERSON: Sorry to interrupt. You didn’t hear the word, or it was not said? Because Senator Graham also told Senator Scott, your Republican colleague, that this is what happened. Senator Flake was in a subsequent meeting right afterwards where he was told by people in the meeting this happened. So just to button that up, you’re saying it did not happen or you just don’t recall?

TOM COTTON: I didn’t hear it, and I was sitting no further away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was. And I know–

JOHN DICKERSON: But–

TOM COTTON: And I know what Dick Durbin has said about the president’s repeated statements is incorrect.

JOHN DICKERSON: So is Senator Durbin lying?

TOM COTTON: Senator Durbin has misrepresented what happened in White House meetings before. And he was corrected by Obama administration official.

Cotton’s defense of Trump is familiar because it is the same one that this president and his White House to discredit any reporting on the Russia scandal. Trump calls true reports lies on a daily basis. All Sen. Cotton did was expand the tactic to call one of his own Senate colleagues a liar.

Both Perdue and Cotton have selfish personal reasons for lying to Trump. Cotton is frequently mentioned as a person who Trump could put in his adminstration. Sen. Cotton also has ambitions of being president someday, and is trying to position himself as the heir to Trump’s base. Sen. Perdue thinks that he needs Trump to win reelection in Georgia in 2020, so he is gluing himself to Trump as a path to keeping his Senate seat.

Multiple people who were familiar with what was said in that room have confirmed Durbin’s account.

Republicans who lie for Trump are setting themselves up to go down with Trump. This president no loyality, so anyone who puts themselves on the line for him is kissing their political future goodbye.

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