Trump denys directing Flynn to talk about sanctions

I have long been of the opinion that Trump directed Flynn to talk about the sanctions with the Russians. I have stated as much in the two threads about Flynn.

Flynn is, first and foremost, a soldier. It was inconceivable to me that he would have had discussions with the Russians about the sanctions without explicit directions from Trump.

The press has to be much more cautious than me. However, the question is finally being publicly raised.
This is from today's (2/16/2017) press conference. (my emphases)

Reporter:

Mr. President, I just want to clarify an important point, I think. Did you direct Mike Flynn to discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador? Prior to your inauguration? Would you have fired him if that information hadn't leaked out?

​

Trump:

I fired him because of what he said to Mike Pence. Very simple. Mike was doing his job. He was calling countries, his counterparts, so it certainly would have been okay with me if he did it. I would have directed him to do it if I thought he was not doing it. I did not direct him, but I would have directed him because that's his job. It came out that way, and, in all fairness, I watched Dr. Charles Krauthammer the other night say, he was doing his job. And I agreed with him.

Since then, I've watched many other people say that. You know, I didn't direct him, but I would have directed him if he did not do it, okay? ​

Question asked. Allegation denied. Sort of. I didn't, but I would have. The door has been opened a tiny crack.

This is important because, if true...

• Trump sent Pence out on the news shows to publicly deny that Flynn talked about sanctions even though he, Trump, knew Flynn had talked about sanctions.
• Trump fired Flynn for lying to Pence even though he, Trump, lied to Pence about the same subject.

Let the fun begin.

 

More nonsense huff-n-puff to add to the pile.

Government official talks to government official about government business.

OH MY GOD THE SKYYYY THE SKYYYY~~!!!!

Where the hell where you people when Hillary Clinton was communicating/sharing actual natural security information to unapproved persons?

This Russian conspiracy theory is pathetic.

People that believe in it or have fallen for it are PATHETIC!

So much hardcore salty butt-hurt based on a fake news generated conspiracy theory that has literally LITERALLY NO PROOF OF ANY KIND, NONE!

NO PROOF!

Let me say that again...

...once more...

...for the cheap seats...

NO PROOF OF ANY KIND!

You think there was something inappropriate in the conversation?

PROVE IT!

You think Trump ordered Flynn to talk sanctions?

PROVE IT!

You think ze Russians haxXxsworded the voting machines?

PROVE IT!

 

I'm seeing it that way, too. Flynn lies to Pence about illegally discussing sanctions with the Russkies, and Trump keeps Pence in the dark for two weeks because he was fine with it. Then when things heat up Trump cans Flynn, but doesn't step down himself. (facepalm)

 

If his job was to discuss sanctions then why would he not tell Pence? Why would trump not tell Pence? Why would trump fire him for doing his job? None of this makes any sense st all. I used to think trump would resign, now I'm wondering if Pence will first.

 

Shouting NO PROOF OF ANY KIND! is unnecessary.
"No proof of any kind" would have worked just as well. Do you believe really loud shouting makes your point? I've known more than a couple of three year olds who thought like that...they got over it.



Now, moving on...

Nothing to prove. I never said there was anything inappropriate in the conversation

Nothing to prove. I never said anything about voting machines.

From the OP: "I have long been of the opinion that Trump directed Flynn to talk about the sanctions with the Russians." Did you not notice the word opinion ? I didn't SHOUT the word opinion, but I did put it in italics. Do yo know what the word opinion means? I have no need to prove my opinion to you or anyone else.

However, I'll just repeat what I wrote in the OP...
Flynn is, first and foremost, a soldier. It was inconceivable to me that he would have had discussions with the Russians about the sanctions without explicit directions from Trump.

And I'll also re-post Trump's response from the text of his press conference. My emphases...

Trump:

I fired him because of what he said to Mike Pence. Very simple. Mike was doing his job. He was calling countries, his counterparts, so it certainly would have been okay with me if he did it. I would have directed him to do it if I thought he was not doing it. I did not direct him, but I would have directed him because that's his job. It came out that way, ...​

Carefully read the bolded part.

So, Trump expected Flynn would talk about sanctions with the Russians. Trump says he was so certain of it, he didn't even think it was necessary to tell Flynn to do it.

What did he say to Flynn? Mike, I'm sure that you are going to talk to the Russkies about those nonsense Obama sanctions. It's not really necessary for me to direct you to do that. Right?

And then he had Pence go on all the news shows stating that Flynn never talked about sanctions. That leaves two big outstanding questions:

1. Did Flynn lie to Pence about sanctions, or did Pence knowingly lie to the American public?
2. Did Flynn lie to FBI investigators, too?

As I said...
Let the fun begin.

 

Meaning he does not have control over Flynn,
#not effective leader, not nice.

 

Flynn isn't the only fall guy in this. Remember Trump's words from today's (2/16/2017) press conference...

"I would have directed him to do it if I thought he was not doing it".​

Trump expected Flynn to talk with the Russians about the sanctions. Then when rumors came out that Flynn talked about the sanctions, Trump had Pence go out and make denials on many news shows.

In other words Trump effed Pence.

 

Is this the new left wing narrative because you can't get traction anywhere else?

 

Here's Flynn's resignation letter. Trump's calling it all "fake news".

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/politics/michael-t-flynn-resignation-letter/

 

Apologies. I just realized I did not post a link to the text of the press conference in the OP...

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-polit...0/full-transcript-trump-wild-press-conference

 

Its absolutely necessary considering how many people still haven't got it through their heads that not a single one of the Russian-centric fake news conspiracy theories has any proof behind it.

 

Irrelevant.

 

Hoosie, I understand. Anything bad about Donald is Irrelevant.

 

No, simply irrelevant. Happens all the time. Obama' transition team did the same in 2008.

Nothing will come of this other than liberal hysteria.

 

Flynn's suggested replacement, an admiral, turned down the offer and said it was a "(*)(*)(*)(*) sandwich." A ha ha ha......

 

After that abomination of a "news conference" yesterday, it almost makes no difference whether Trump directed Flynn to discuss the sanctions or not. This is tiny potatoes in the general scheme of things.

America has an incompetent individual in the Oval Office.

We are in a cesspool up to our upper lip...and we are worrying about smell!

Whether Trump directed the actions Flynn took...or if Flynn took them on his own are doodles in the margins of a page that should be directed toward the question, "When are the leaders of the Republican Party going to take ownership of the problem known as Donald Trump...and solve it?"

WHEN?

If they wait much longer, the problem may get beyond even their control.

I hope closet meetings are happening this moment between Mike Pence and Republican legislative leaders about this gangrene plaguing government.

 

Frank,

For once I agree with what you wrote.

 

Obama's National Security Adviser did not lie Vice President. Obama did not instruct his National Security Adviser to lie to his Vice President. Obama did not fire his National Security Adviser within 30 days.

 

So? That is up to the President. Flynn the lifelong democrat is gone. Get over it.

 

Thank you, Ecco. I'm happy we have this area of agreement.

It seems incredible that there are partisans on the other side willing to rationalize what is going on.

This is a very sad juncture in our nation's history.

I hope we make it through it intact.

 

Of course the herd will gather together to share their mass hysteria. It is only normal.

 

And now I find myself in the uncomfortable position of agreeing with you, Hoosier.

 

You wrote (my emphasis)

I responded showing Obama' transition team did not do the same in 2008.

Now you try to deflect in the hope no one remembers what you said. That's the same BS tactic Trump uses, do a different dumb thing every day and hope no one notices. (Yeah, I know, GMTA).

However, the press and the Dems are not going to ignore that Trump knew in December that Flynn discussed sanctions with the Russian Ambassador and then had Pence lie about it Jan/Feb and then fire Flynn for doing what he was told.

 

You mean no one wet thier pants over what Obama did.

 

You mean like children singing praises to Obama?