White house. The president is back in washington from florida where the firestorm ignited by racial comments hes quoted to having made about african nations and racism has not died down. Now reporting on that meeting in the oval office, white house officials and congressional aides tell the post this, quote, when President Trump spoke by phone with senator richard j. Durbin around 10 15 last thursday, he expressed pleasure with durbins outline of a bipartisan immigration pact and praised the highranking democrats efforts. He then asked if Lindsey Graham was on board, which durbin affirmed. But when they arrived at the oval office, the two senators were surprised to find that trump was far from ready to finalize the agreement. He was, quote, fired up and surrounded by hardline conservatives such as senator tom cotton and he shrugged off suggestions from durbin and others the president called nations from africa socalled blankhole countries. The rift over those remarks threatened prevent
Another nickname on yet another enemy today. All part of the 11th hour just getting underway on a monday night. And as we start a new week, good evening once again from our nbc news headquarters here in new york. Day 361 of the Trump Administration, a day devoted, of course, to remembrance of the reverend dr. Martin luther king jr. , and politically the start of a critical week for this white house. The president is back in washington from florida where the firestorm ignited by racial commen comments hes quoted to having made about african nations and racism has not died down. Now reporting on that meeting in the oval office, white house officials and congressional aides tell the post this, quote, when President Trump spoke by phone with senator richard j. Durbin around 10 15 last thursday, he expressed pleasure with durbins outline of a bipartisan immigration pact and praised the highranking d democr democrats efforts. He then asked if Lindsey Graham was on board, which durbin affirme