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9 times Trump has publicly embarrassed the people who work for him
9 times Trump has publicly embarrassed the people who work for him
Grace PanettaMar 29, 2019, 23:25 IST
President Donald Trump.Scott Olson/Getty Images
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President Donald Trump backtracked on his decision to eliminate federal government funding, putting his education Secretary Betsy DeVos in a bind.
"I've been to the Special Olympics, I think it's incredible and I just authorized funding," Trump told reporters. "I heard about it this morning. I have overridden my people. We're funding the Special Olympics."
Trump has publicly contradicted or embarrassed members of his administration on multiple occasions, including members of his cabinet, the Federal Reserve, and even his own intelligence officials.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump publicly contradicted his Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' announcement that Trump's proposed budget plan would eliminate $18 million in funding for the Special Olympics, which garnered fierce backlash from the public.
"I've been to the Special Olympics, I think it's incredible and I just authorized funding," Trump told reporters when asked about the announcement. "I heard about it this morning. I have overridden my people. We're funding the special Olympics."
After initially defending the budget cut and accusing the media of smearing her, DeVos then walked back her previous statements, stating she had, in fact, strongly supported the federal funding for the Special Olympics.
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Trump has publicly contradicted or embarrassed members of his administration on multiple occasions, including members of his cabinet, the Federal Reserve, and even his own intelligence officials.
After his Education Secretary Betsy DeVos received swift backlash over Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2020 eliminating funding for the Special Olympics, Trump said he was "overriding his people" and would fund the program.
Last week, Trump attempted to overturn newly-imposed sanctions on North Korea enacted by his own Treasury Department with a tweet, confusing staff. The White House tried to cover for him by claiming his tweet referred to separate sanctions.
Politico recently reported that Trump blindsided his attorney general and secretary of Health and Human Services by forging ahead with a plan to sue to invalidate the entire Affordable Care Act — despite their opposition and concerns.
Trump had a famously frosty relationship with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, openly contradicting him on many subjects, including the US' policy on the UAE's blockade of Qatar. Tillerson never directly denied an NBC report that he called Trump "a f--- moron."
"I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man," Trump tweeted in October 2017, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!"
“What’s he done for me?” Trump asked in a cabinet meeting. “How has he done in Afghanistan? Not too good. Not too good. I’m not happy with what he’s done in Afghanistan and I shouldn’t be happy. I wish him well, I hope he does well. But as you know President Obama fired him and essentially so did I.”
"The only problem our economy has is the Fed. They don’t have a feel for the Market, they don’t understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch - he can’t putt!" Trump tweeted.
Trump also publicly blasted his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, for recusing himself from overseeing the Mueller investigation. The president complained to Fox News that Sessions "never really took control of the Justice Department" and that he only gave Sessions the job because of his loyalty.
And Trump publicly undermined the resounding conclusion of his intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, saying he "didn't believe any reason why it would be Russia" while standing next to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
