it shouldn't certainly be very much. >> reporter: behind the scenes, cnn has learned the president is furious and frustrated by what he suspects is an 11th hour attempt to smear his pick for the supreme court. a california professor, christine blasy ford, accusing kavanaugh of sexual assaulting her while they were teenagers in high school. kavanaugh calling it a completely false allegation. yet his confirmation now hangs in the balance. kellyanne conway, one of the highest ranking women in the white house, trying to set a tone of civility. >> on behalf of the president with whom i've spoken at length about this. she should not be ignored or insulted. she should be heard. >> reporter: sending a message to others around the president this moment is a serious one. it came after the president's son, donald trump jr., mocked want accuser in this instagram post citing judge kavanaugh's sexuality letter found by dems, will you be my girlfriend? yes, no, love brett.