No. Look, i think the president wanted to go a different direction. I support him in that. And like i said a couple weeks ago, i said the president has a right to change directions. The president has a right to hit a reset button. I think its a good time to hit the reset button. I think he was right to hit the reset button, and i think it was something that i think the white house needs. I think its healthy. And i support him in it. Was he not happy with the direction you were setting . No, but look, i think bringing fresh people is a good thing. So, look, he has the best political instincts. Hes hang on a second. He knows, i think, intuitively when things need to change. Ive seen it on the wild ride with the president that i loved being a part of, but he intuitively determined it was time to do something differently. And i think hes right. But its only been six months, not very long when you say he wanted to do things differently, tell us precisely what he said to you, why he wants to
He accepted it yesterday. Why . Were there a series of issues . Or is there one thing that came up and you decided i no longer can do this . No. Look, i think the president wanted to go a different direction. I support him in that. And like i said a couple weeks ago, i said the president has a right to change directions. The president has a right to hit a reset button. I think its a good time to hit the reset button. I think he was right to hit the reset button, and i think it was something that i think the white house needs. I think its healthy. And i support him in it. Was he not happy with the direction you were setting . No, but look, i think bringing fresh people is a good thing. So, look, he has the best political instincts. Hes hang on a second. He knows, i think, intuitively when things need to change. Ive seen it on the wild ride with the president that i loved being a part of, but he intuitively determined it was time to do something differently. And i think hes right. But it
Steve is very committed. Hes a friend of mine. Guess whos coming to dinner . Former green Party President ial candidate jill stein joins me live. Well ask her what she was doing at this russian gala at the same table at flynn and putin. President trump, about to leave for christmas break with a major legislative win under his belt. The president could sign the gop tax bill into law today just in time to give americans what he calls the greatest Christmas Gift. Were going to dig into that. I have a great team here to break it all down and what it means for you, starting with Nbcs Kristen Welker at the white house. Kristen, President Trump leaving for maralago in less than an hour. We heard hes got his pen out ready to sign. Ive been talking to officials here, stef. They say it is very likely hes going to dine what has been a landmark tax bill into law before he takes off in less than an hour, as you point out. I think the optics of it would be significant for this president who promised
Partner in crime writing, quote, not withstanding that rick gates pled today, i continue to maintain my innocence. I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose do otherwise. This does not alter my commitment to defend myself in the charges piled up against me. Gates becomes the Third Trump Campaign official to join what one ally describes as team america. Gates, along with former National Security adviser mike flin and former Trump Campaign adviser George Papadopoulos are now cooperating with the investigation and providing special counsel bob mueller with any and all information including testimony, documents, electronic files, or anything else it requests in return for leniency. As this news was breaking, donald trump addressed a wildly enthusiastic crowd at the annual cpac conference just outside washington, d. C. I saved you, cried the woman, and youve bitten me. Heavens why . You
Ayman mohyeldin alongside Yasmin Vossoughian and Louis Burgdorf. Well President Trump fanned the flames of controversy around the violence in charlottesville, virginia, once again where White Nationalists and affiliated groups chanted nazi slogan. And one of those White Nationalist marchers plowed into protesters. A day after singling out the kkk and other gait group, the president reverted to his original statement that multi time sides were to blame for that violence. During an unplanned session with sessions, he explained the condemning while adding those marching alongside them contained many fine people. There was no way of making that statement that early. I had to see the facts, unlike a lot of reporters unlike a lot of reporters. I didnt know david duke was there. I had to see the facts. And the facts as they started coming out was very well stated. Everybody said his statement was beautiful. If he would have made it sooner that could have been good. I couldnt have made it soon