The surprise speech Donald Trump gave blasting the House’s investigations led by Democrats following the Mueller probe was apparently planned in advance.
After Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday morning Trump engaged in a cover-up, the president was clearly furious.
The infrastructure meeting with Pelosi and Chuck Schumer ended early as Trump, per multiple reports, went on a tear about the investigations and stormed out.
White House staffers helped set up the Rose Garden event held afterwards in which Trump railed against the investigations, but ABC News is reporting that some Trump aides tried to stop him.
John Santucci of ABC News said, “Senior administration sources at ABC News some aides close to President tried to stop him for marching to the Rose Garden for that event just now. Sources tell me & @KFaulders the president was mad from first thing this morning & comments by Speaker Pelosi pushed him over the edge.”
Senior administration sources @ABC [1] News some aides close to President tried to stop him for marching to the Rose Garden for that event just now. Sources tell me & @KFaulders [2] the president was mad from first thing this morning & comments by Speaker Pelosi pushed him over the edge
— John Santucci (@Santucci) May 22, 2019 [3]
The New York Times reported [4], meanwhile, that Trump stormed out of the meeting with Pelosi and Schumer after just 3 minutes.
WH aides watching Trump now: Ivanka Trump, Mnuchin, Sanders, Conway, Cippolone, Kudlow, etc. pic.twitter.com/iKKvXG6w2V [5]
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 22, 2019 [6]
WATCH:
White House aides close to President Trump tried to stop him for heading to the Rose Garden for his impromptu speech, but he pushed back, senior administration sources tell ABC News.
Trump slammed Democrats after Nancy Pelosi accused him of a "cover-up" https://t.co/RNCYty3Hls [7] pic.twitter.com/8UXeCbTDhY [8]
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 22, 2019 [9]