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.
-
The UK’s ‘wallaby boom’Under the Radar The Australian marsupial has ‘colonised’ the Isle of Man and is now making regular appearances on the UK mainland
-
Fast food is no longer affordable to low-income AmericansThe explainer Cheap meals are getting farther out of reach
-
‘The money to fix this problem already exists’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read The Texas congressional map ordered by Trump is likely an illegal racial gerrymander, the court ruled
-
Trump defends Saudi prince, shrugs off Khashoggi murderSpeed Read The president rebuked an ABC News reporter for asking Mohammed bin Salman about the death of a Washington Post journalist at the Saudi Consulate in 2018
-
Congress passes bill to force release of Epstein filesSpeed Read The Justice Department will release all files from its Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation
-
Trump says he will sell F-35 jets to Saudi ArabiaSpeed Read The president plans to make several deals with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week
-
Judge blasts ‘profound’ errors in Comey caseSpeed Read ‘Government misconduct’ may necessitate dismissing the charges against the former FBI director altogether
-
Ecuador rejects push to allow US military basesSpeed Read Voters rejected a repeal of a constitutional ban on US and other foreign military bases in the country
-
Trump pivots on Epstein vote amid GOP defectionsSpeed Read The president said House Republicans should vote on a forced release of the Justice Department’s Jeffrey Epstein files
-
Trump DOJ sues to block California redistrictingSpeed Read California’s new congressional map was drawn by Democrats to flip Republican-held House seats
