President Donald Trump used an appearance on his favorite TV show to bash “obstructionist” Democrats, contradict himself on his work with lawyer Michael Cohen, and insult former FBI director James Comey.
Trump called into Fox and Friends live on Thursday morning for a rapid-fire phone interview.
After wishing his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, a happy birthday, Trump got down to brass tacks, barely giving the hosts a chance to interject.
Following the news that the president’s nominee for secretary of veterans affairs, Ronny Jackson, had withdrawn his application to the job, Trump lashed out at “obstructionist” Democrats for their determination to block his appointment.
READ MORE: Trump’s Pompeo rant: President tweets frustration at ‘obstructionist Democrats’
Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) released a document on Monday detailing allegations that Jackson crashed a government vehicle when drunk, and handed out so many prescription drugs that he earned the name “Candyman.”
"These are all false accusations, these are false, and they're trying to destroy a man,” Trump said. “By the way, I did say 'Welcome to Washington, welcome to the swamp.’”
The real bombshell from the 30-minute interview came when Trump admitted that lawyer Michael Cohen represented him in his dealings with adult actress Stormy Daniels, who alleges she was paid $130,000 to keep silent about an affair she had with Trump over a decade ago.
Trump said that Cohen handled “a tiny, tiny little fraction” of his legal work. “Like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me and you know, from what I see, he did absolutely nothing wrong.”
Cohen has worked for Trump for more than a decade as a lawyer and fixer. On Wednesday, Cohen invoked his 5th Amendment rights to remain silent on his involvement with the payout to Daniels. Trump had previously denied any knowledge of a payment made from Cohen to Daniels, and Cohen has argued that his work with the president should be covered by attorney-client privilege.
Over on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe,” Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti called Trump’s admission “hugely damaging” and “a gift from the heavens” for his case.
Trump also took the opportunity to again call former FBI director James Comey a “leaker and a liar,” adding: “I did a great thing for the American people by firing him.”
Trump told the Fox hosts that he did spend a night at a hotel in Russia in 2013. His stay at the hotel was mentioned in a dossier of unsubstantiated allegations funded by Trump’s political opponents in the Democratic party, which was the basis for surveillance warrants of Trump campaign officials over alleged collusion with Russia.
In his memos, Comey claims that Trump denied staying overnight. Speaking on Thursday morning, Trump said that Comey was a liar, and called the memos “phoney.”
“This is a big mistake, and he is guilty of crimes,” said Trump.
The president’s stream-of-consciousness left the hosts unable to get a word in edgewise.
"I think he was awake, and he had a lot to say," host Steve Doocy joked at the end.