Early this morning, Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson did what many felt sure he would do eventually: He withdrew his nomination to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In doing so, Jackson overshadowed a victory for President Donald Trump — the swift confirmation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, along with the release of a photo of Pompeo meeting with Kim Jong Un. Jackson was also an unwitting spark to a new presidential feud, POLITICO’s Burgess Everett reports.
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Vulnerable Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat up for reelection, led the charge with a slew of anonymous allegations against Jackson. And Trump is livid.
“The president is enraged over Tester’s work documenting allegations of malfeasance by Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, which quickly unraveled Jackson’s nomination to be VA secretary and marks a turning point in the relationship between the moderate Democrat and Trump. As Tester’s reelection campaign kicks into high gear, Trump is more motivated than ever to campaign against him in the ruby-red state — accusing the senator of irresponsibly leaking the damaging information to undermine the president’s nominee.”
As for Jackson, he announced his decision to withdraw earlier this morning amid a wave of damaging allegations, though he insisted the allegations were false even in pulling himself out of the process to lead the VA.
“The allegations against me are completely false and fabricated,” he said. “If they had any merit, I would not have been selected, promoted and entrusted to serve in such a sensitive and important role as physician to three presidents over the past 12 years.”
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Your author is moving on, and this is the last Trump After Dark. Thank you for your readership, tolerance of puns and senses of humor. Be kind!
Elsewhere in President Trump’s orbit:
POMP, YOU UP: The Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as secretary of state, installing a close confidant of President Trump in Foggy Bottom. The White House also released a photo of Pompeo meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
HE GOT PRUITT: EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt dodged blame, said staff were responsible for costly decisions about his security and pegged complaints to critics of President Donald Trump during a daylong congressional hearing that appeared, for now, to slow calls for his job.
NOT RUSSIAN, BUT: President Trump said at some point he may change his mind and decide to get involved in the Department of Justice’s Russia probe.
NO FRIENDS ZONE: When President Trump talked off the cuff during an interview with Fox Friends this morning he once again showed how he can disrupt his legal strategy with stray comments.
FOREVER WAR: President Trump has been at odds with the press for a long time, long before he made “fake news” a buzz phrase.
EAST MEETS WEST: The New Yorker explains why Kanye West and President Trump are drawn together.
CALL THEM RED CARDS?: President Trump hinted on Twitter that he would remove support for certain nations if they didn’t back a joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup.
There you have it. You’re caught up on the Trump administration. TGIT.