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May 23, 2019

President Trump Storms Out of Meeting with Top Democrats over "Phony" Inquiries
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President Trump stormed out of a White House meeting Wednesday with
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,
saying he won't work with the Democratic leaders until they end what he
called "phony" inquiries into his presidency. Trump's outburst came just
hours after Pelosi accused him of engaging in a "cover-up" by resisting
congressional subpoenas.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "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."

Trump cited Pelosi's comment as his reason for storming out of
Wednesday's meeting. He spoke to reporters in the White House Rose
Garden just after the confrontation.

President Donald Trump: "I don't do cover-ups. You people know that
probably better than anybody."

Trump's outburst ended discussions with Pelosi and Schumer on a $2
trillion plan to reinvest in U.S. infrastructure. After the aborted
meeting, Sen. Schumer said Trump had clearly planned the move in
advance.

Sen. Chuck Schumer: "It's clear that this was not a spontaneous move on
the president's part. It was planned. When we got in the room, the
curtains were closed. The president, there was a place for him at the
front so he could stand and attempt to tell us why he wouldn't do
infrastructure. And, of course, then he went to the Rose Garden with
prepared signs that had been printed up long before our meeting."

Meanwhile, House Speaker Pelosi's staff held a caucus meeting Wednesday
to tamp down demands by many Democrats to open impeachment proceedings
against Trump.


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