Trump reportedly brought Herman Cain to the Situation Room and asked for a '9-9-9' border plan


Herman Cain never seemed destined to make it anywhere close to the White House — until President Trump literally ushered him inside.
But the instantly doomed 2012 candidate with the unforgettable political ad has returned to the political scene, reportedly as Trump's next nominee to the Federal Reserve Board. Senate Republican have shuttered Cain's nomination already, but that didn't stop Trump from giving him a concerningly confidential tour of the White House the other day, The Washington Post reports.
Reports first suggested Trump was considering the former CEO of the Godfather's Pizza Chain for a Fed spot in January. It seemed like a far-fetched proposal — something only Mark Block would support — until you consider that Cain chaired Kansas City's Federal Reserve Board for a while. Trump has since told reporters Cain is "somebody I like a lot."
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.
But the president took that tepid statement further recently, interrupting a Situation Room meeting with "generals and other military leaders" once he got a note that Cain was in the building, two sources tell the Post. He then reportedly brought Cain into the room and told the gathered leaders to craft a "9-9-9" plan for the border. The reference to Cain's ultra-simple tax plan "fell flat," the Post writes.
Trump has not publicly acknowledged several allegations of sexual misconduct against Cain, accusations Cain denies. After four Senate Republicans said they'd oppose Cain's nomination, ABC News reported Cain will withdraw his name before the selection is ever made official. Read more about Cain's impromptu Situation Room visit at The Washington Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US