‘Transparent’ Trump sends Democrats on their way

Donald Trump abruptly ends co-operation with Democrats in the most serious impasse yet.

Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr. Picture: AP.

Donald Trump has abruptly ended all co-operation with the Democrats until they stop their ­investigations into him.

The President dramatically cut off a planned meeting with Democrat leaders on infrastructure after only three minutes, then gave a surprise press conference in the Rose Garden, saying he could no longer work with his political opponen­ts while they continued to investigate him.

“I walked into the room and I told Schumer and Speaker Pelosi: ‘I want to do infrastructure but, you know what, we can’t do it under these circumstances’,” Mr Trump said of the minority Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. “So get these phony investig­ations over.”

Ms Pelosi then held a press conference­, saying: “For some ­reason, maybe it was lack of confid­ence on his part … he just took a pass, and it just makes me wonder why he did,” she said. “In any event, I pray for the President of the United States, and I pray for the United States of America.”

COMMENT: Gridlock brings risks for all

The impasse is the most serious between Mr Trump and Democrats and, unless solved, promises indefinite political gridlock in Washington and a stalling of Mr Trump’s legislative agenda.

The President’s anger was sparked by comments made earlier by Ms Pelosi when she criticised him for stonewalling attempts by congressional Democrats to investigate him.

“We do believe it’s important to follow the facts,” Ms Pelosi said. “We believe that no one is above the law, including the President of the United States, and we believe that the President of the United States is engaged in a cover-up — in a cover-up.”

Donald Trump walked out of a meeting with Democrats including Nancy Pelosi after just three minutes. Picture: AP.

Mr Trump has moved to prevent witnesses from testifying to Democrat-controlled house committees about his conduct on a wide-range of issues including Russia, obstruction of justice and his personal taxes and business dealings.

Ms Pelosi’s comments sent Mr Trump into a fury. He ordered that signs be printed to be displayed at a surprise press conference listing the cost and duration of the Mueller ­inquiry and its conclusions of “no ­obstruction” and “no collusion”.

The President then walked into his planned meeting with the Democrats, including Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer. He refused to shake hands or take a seat.

Those in the meeting said he accused Ms Pelosi of saying something “terrible” and then departed without allowing for a response. “He said it was over, that he wasn’t going to do infrastructure or anything else until (investigations] were over),” Democrat senator Debbie Stabenow said.

Mr Schumer said afterwards: “To watch what happened in the White House would make your jaw drop.”

But Mr Trump said: “Instead of walking in happily to a meeting, I walk in to look at people who said I was doing a cover-up. I don’t do cover-ups.

“I just saw that Nancy Pelosi, just before our meeting, made a statement that we believe that ‘the President of the United States is engaged in a cover-up’. It turns out I’m the most — I think most of you would agree to this — I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country.

“I’ve said from the beginning — right from the beginning — you probably can’t go down two tracks. You can go down the investigation track or you can go down the ­investment track.”

Mr Trump pointed out that the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller had interviewed more than 500 people and that the Democrats now wanted to interview those people again rather than focus on passing legislation that would help Americans.

He said the Mueller investig­ation had been “a one-sided, horrib­le thing”.

“This whole thing was a takedown attempt at the President of the United States — and honestly, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves for the way you report it so dishonestly,” he told the media.

The White House’s attempts to block witnesses from testifying to Democrat committees has angered Democrats. It has sparked calls from a growing number within the party to consider impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump. But Ms Pelosi has cautioned against such a move, warning it could backfire on the party.

Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia