The Note: Trump’s do-over doesn’t mean it’s over
Trump on Tuesday asked for a do-over of his comments about Russia meddling.
The TAKE with Rick Klein
Call it a walk-back, a cleanup or a clarification. Just don’t call it over.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday did something he rarely does in asking for a do-over of his comments about Russia meddling. But he provided far more clarity a day earlier, when he declared that “we’re all to blame,” and expressed confidence in “both parties” -- American intelligence agencies and the Putin government.
Even his acceptance of the judgment of the U.S. intelligence community that Russia tried to meddle in the election came late and with a loud caveat: “could be other people also.”
What the president said Tuesday will probably be enough for many of his supporters, on Capitol Hill and among friendly pundits, to declare the episode to be in the past.
But what happened in Helsinki wasn’t about a missing contraction or an error in transcription, any more than Charlottesville was about a stray turn of phrase regarding “both sides.”
The questions raised by Monday’s comments -- up to and including what Trump and Vladimir Putin actually discussed privately --remain as relevant now as they were then. The question for Trump allies is whether they’re inclined to continue to ask them.
The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks
After the president's comments, it is clear every Republican candidate will be asked if he or she believes the intelligence community's assessment that Russian agents sought to disrupt U.S. elections and whether Trump is doing enough to stop them moving forward.
On the other end of the spectrum, every Democrat will likely be asked if he or she would vote to impeach the commander in chief.
The Democrat running against Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was asked the question again Monday and said once more that he would.
Back in April, Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who has been raking in cash for his fight against Cruz, said he had seen enough to support impeachment. “I've seen an attempt, no matter how ham-handed, to collude with a foreign government in our national election," he said in an interview.
This week, a number of Democrats used words like “treacherous” and “treasonous” to describe the president’s performance in Finland.
While House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has for some time urged her colleagues not to use the “I-word.” Statements like these to describe the president’s behavior invite follow up questions about what exactly Democrats would do to respond to this White House -- if they held power.
The TIP with Jonathan Karl
Keenly aware there was a problem after his news conference in Helsinki with Putin, Trump met with top advisers Tuesday morning to discuss what to do about it.
Sources tell ABC News the president himself came up with the idea of the "would" versus "would not" clarification, telling aides he had seen the clip, realized he misspoke, and wanted to make a statement. Those involved with crafting the statement were: White House adviser Steven Miller, press secretary Sarah Sanders, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine, Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp and National Security Adviser John Bolton.
The president also discussed it with Newt Gingrich, who had called on Trump to clarify his comments in Helsinki on “the U.S. intelligence system and Putin,” calling the remarks “the most serious mistake of his presidency.”Late in the process, Vice President Mike Pence also asked to see the statement.
The line "it could have been a lot of people" was not part of the prepared remarks. The president's aides were also not particularly surprised the president said it.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Listen, I don’t accept the president’s comments today. If he wanted to make those comments, he should’ve had the strength to make them in front of Vladimir Putin." -- Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
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The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead. Please check back tomorrow for the latest.