A running list of every Trump official claiming they didn't write the Times op-ed
A "senior official in the Trump administration" wrote an anonymous op-ed in The New York Times on Wednesday, claiming there's a "resistance" within the White House. Amateur detectives want to know who it is. There are dozens of potential culprits, but these administration officials have so far denied responsibility. Kathryn Krawczyk
Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president is "above such amateur acts," his communications director tweeted Thursday morning.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The top diplomat told reporters a "disgruntled, deceptive bad actor" wrote the letter, but it wasn't him, per NBC News.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Secretary of Defense James Mattis. A Pentagon spokeswoman simply told Reuters that "it was not [Mattis'] op-ed."
National Intelligence Director Dan Coats. Despite recently criticizing Trump, neither Coats nor his "principal deputy" wrote the piece, he said in a statement.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson. A spokesperson told The Guardian that Carson isn't responsible.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen. This "political attack" is beneath her, a spokesperson told NBC News.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. "It is laughable to think this could come from the secretary," Mnuchin's public affairs assistant tweeted.
Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. Not him, a spokesperson told NBC News.
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. "Hiding behind anonymity and smearing the president ... makes you a coward," Perry tweeted.
Ambassador to Russia John Huntsman. His time spent communicating with Moscow taught him to "never send an anonymous op-ed," a spokesperson says.
First Lady Melania Trump. Whoever wrote it is "sabotaging this country," she told CNN.
White House Counsel Don McGahn. He'll be leaving the White House soon, but still didn't write it, per CNN.
Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta. He "does not play these sophomoric Washington games," a spokesperson said.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie. It's not him "nor anyone else at the VA," a spokesperson told CNN.
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. He tweeted that he's "thoroughly appalled" by it.
Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon. Nope, she tweeted.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. Nah, per The Guardian.
CIA Director Gina Haspel. A spokesperson told NBC News: "No!"
Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. No, she told CNN.
Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "That's a no," a spokesman said.
Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. "For those who have inquired," no, a spokeswoman told CNN.
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. She "does not play Washington insider games," the department's press secretary tweeted.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. It's a "complete and total fabrication," he said in a statement to CNN.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. "Of course not," she told NBC News.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Even Trump's public enemy is a no, a spokesperson told CNN.
National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone. Not him, per an NSA tweet.
This list has been updated as more officials have denied responsibility.
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
San Francisco tackles affordability problems with free child careThe Explainer The free child care will be offered to thousands of families in the city
-
How realistic is the Democratic plan to retake the Senate this year?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Schumer is growing bullish on his party’s odds in November — is it typical partisan optimism, or something more?
-
Taxes: It’s California vs. the billionairesFeature Larry Page and Peter Thiel may take their wealth elsewhere
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
-
Trump says US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela after Maduro grabSpeed Read The American president claims the US will ‘run’ Venezuela for an unspecified amount of time, contradicting a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
