The White House ignores report of Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting to talk about Democratic obstruction


The White House has one topic on its mind going into its first press conference since June 30 and it's ... Democratic obstruction?
There are a number of other topics the White House might have chosen to address instead, chief among them The New York Times' explosive article Sunday that revealed Donald Trump Jr. offered shifting explanations regarding a June 2016 meeting with Kremlin-connected lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, with whom he apparently discussed receiving incriminating about Hillary Clinton. Legal experts claim Trump Jr.'s behavior "borders on treason" and could send him to jail.
Meanwhile, at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., the concerns are more along the lines of how "President Trump has nominated qualified individuals to key positions, but their confirmations have been delayed by obstructionism in the Senate," as a handout distributed to reporters Monday reads. "The blatant obstruction of President Trump's nominations threatens key aspects of the government, including national security, by leaving positions vacant." While Trump does have an unfilled jobs problem, "the process is bogged down by the involvement of top White House officials, turf wars, and an inexperienced and overworked staff," Politico writes — not primarily by the Senate, which is controlled by the Republicans, Trump's own party.
Subscribe to 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.
While reporters can still raise questions about Donald Trump Jr., Monday's press conference will not be televised.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 10, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and more
-
5 streetwise cartoons about defunding PBS
Cartoons Artists take on immigrant puppets, defense spending, and more
-
Dark chocolate macadamia cookies recipe
The Week Recommends These one-bowl cookies will melt in your mouth
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
Trump, UK's Starmer outline first post-tariff deal
speed read President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Kier Starmer struck a 'historic' agreement to eliminate some of the former's imposed tariffs
-
Fed leaves rates unchanged as Powell warns on tariffs
speed read The Federal Reserve says the risks of higher inflation and unemployment are increasing under Trump's tariffs
-
Denmark to grill US envoy on Greenland spying report
speed read The Trump administration ramped up spying on Greenland, says reporting by The Wall Street Journal
-
Supreme Court allows transgender troop ban
speed read The US Supreme Court will let the Trump administration begin executing its ban on transgender military service members
-
Hollywood confounded by Trump's film tariff idea
speed read President Trump proposed a '100% tariff' on movies 'produced in foreign lands'
-
Trump offers migrants $1,000 to 'self-deport'
speed read The Department of Homeland Security says undocumented immigrants can leave the US in a more 'dignified way'
-
Trump is not sure he must follow the Constitution
speed read When asked about due process for migrants in a TV interview, President Trump said he didn't know whether he had to uphold the Fifth Amendment