Trump quickly disagreed with Susan Collins that he learned his lesson from impeachment
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) just articulated one of the main rationales certain Republican senators are giving for not voting to impeach President Trump for what they agree are his misdeeds regarding Ukraine and Joe Biden. "I believe that the president has learned from this case," Collins told CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell on Tuesday. "The president has been impeached. That's a pretty big lesson. ... I believe that he will be much more cautious in the future."
"The president's call was wrong," Collins added. "The president of the United States should not be asking a foreign country to investigate a political rival. That is just improper. It was far from a perfect call."
Trump, it appears, disagrees with Collins. "It was a perfect call," Trump told O'Donnell and other TV news anchors during a two-hour lunch ahead of his State of the Union address, according to The Washington Post. He again insisted he did nothing wrong. The lunch was off-the-record for journalists who attended — nobody from the Post was there, and CNN was pointedly not invited — but Trump's lack of contrition over impeachment matches other reporting and Trump's frequent public statements.
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.
Trump also mocked his former national security adviser John Bolton during the lunch, saying he wants the White House to block publication of Bolton's forthcoming book and jabbing Bolton for always insisting on being referred to as "ambassador," despite earning the title during a brief, non-Senate-confirmed tenure as United Nations ambassador under President George W. Bush, the Post and CNN report. Trump discussed his potential Democratic rivals, reportedly calling Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) "nasty" and fixating on former Vice President Joe Biden, his son Hunter, and Ukrainian gas company Burisma.
The White House declined invitations to respond to the reports. "I'm not going to comment on an off-the-record lunch because I actually have ethics," said White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aid
Speed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picks
Speed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published