WH: Body Slams? Okay. Bombs? No Way.

White House Briefing Room 

October 24, 2018

Question:  Sarah, does President Trump feel any personal responsibility for creating the political climate in which people think it's acceptable to send bombs to prominent public figures?

Sanders:  Of course not, why should he?

Question:  Well, for example, last week at a rally in Montana, didn't he praise Rep. Greg Gianforte for assaulting a correspondent from The Guardian?

Sanders:  Not at all.  President Trump was just proud that Rep. Gianforte shares the people of Montana's distrust for the media.

Question:  Sarah, the President specifically described how the Congressman "body slammed" the reporter, then said "he's my kind guy."

Sanders:  I think you are reading the President's comments too literally.  We say in the media all the time that "So-and-so slams so-and-so, or something-or-other."  I think that's what President Trump meant.

Question:  Sarah, you know that Congressman Gianforte pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was required to take anger management training.

Sanders:  So it sounds like Congressman Gianforte has put this behind him, so maybe we should all move on.

Question:  Just so we are clear, the President unequivocally condemns the attempted attacks on President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and others?

Sanders:  Absolutely.  In fact, he personally called Attorney General Sessions and ordered him to investigate whether these parcels were sent by the caravan of terrorists, murderers, and rapists that is slowly advancing its way through Mexico to challenge our American way-of-life.

Question:  Sarah, how in the world would ...

Sanders:  Sorry, no more questions today.

WH: Trump Was Right About Khashoggi

The White House held an impromptu press briefing Friday evening in response to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's official announcement that Saudi national and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi died "in a fight" at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.  This coming after two weeks of Saudi claims that Khashoggi had left the consulate alive on October 2.

In brief prepared remarks White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckleby Sanders expressed condolences to Mr. Khashoggi's family, then concluded, "Let the record show that one day after President Trump stated 'It appears that Mr. Khashoggi is dead,' his instincts were proven to be correct."  When confronted by the fact that most world leaders had come to the same conclusion two weeks ago Sanders responded, "This isn't a president who runs with the crowd."  When befuddled journalists asked just what that meant, Sanders pressed on:  "I'm just stating facts.  President Trump's instincts are infallible.  Whether it's a question of the wisdom of giving the richest Americans a huge tax cut, trusting know-it-all scientists about so-called global warming, risking a trade war with China, or recognizing the death of a journalist in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the American people -- real Americans -- can trust President Trump."

Asked if Mr. Khashoggi's death will affect US-Saudi relations, given the strong personal ties between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, Sanders replied, "It appears to President Trump that the Crown Prince will be cleared of any involvement in the assass,,., um, accidental death, so he does not see any reason why the US-Saudi partnership cannot move forward."