Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker disgraced the office he holds on Wednesday when he slobberingly praised President Donald Trump during a televised Cabinet meeting, resulting in former White House and Justice Department officials to express disgust.
Trump has repeatedly forced Cabinet members to praise him during such meetings, and this one was no different as Whitaker opened the groveling by praising Trump for staying in Washington during the holidays while attacking Democrats for going on vacation.
“Sir, Mr. President, I will start by highlighting the fact you stayed in DC over the holidays, giving up Christmas with your family, New Year’s with your family trying to bring an end to this shutdown and secure the southern border while some members of Congress went on vacation,” Whitaker said. “You have demonstrated your dedication to delivering on this critical issue for our country and for the American people.”
Whitaker went on to spout lies about Trump’s wall and how it will stop drugs and illegal immigration even though studies show that a wall will do nothing of the sort.
Here’s the video via Twitter.
Acting AG Whitaker kisses up to Trump for staying in DC over holidays: “Sir, Mr President, I will start by highlighting the fact you stayed in DC over the holidays, giving up Christmas w/your family, New Year’s w/your family… you have demonstrated your dedication to delivering” pic.twitter.com/9Lo2pMocgN
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 2, 2019
Of course, Democrats were not the only ones who took a break over the holidays. Republicans did as well, including many Senate Republicans. And despite Whitaker’s clear attempt to blame Democrats for the shutdown, Trump took complete ownership of the government shutdown last month during a televised meeting with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Furthermore, Democrats were not even in control of the Senate and House, and thus, had no power to gavel either side of Congress into session. Republicans were the ones who made the schedule and they were the ones who initiated the holiday break. Period.
It should also be pointed out that Trump was not forced to be separated from his family. They could have chosen to remain in Washington with him. They chose to go to Florida without him instead.
In response to Whitaker’s unprecedented ass-kissing, former White House and Justice Department officials and employees and former and current lawmakers expressed utter disgust, especially since Whitaker is biased against the Russia investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Whitaker is attempting a nearly impossible feat. In sucking up to Trump he is trying to do so more obsequiously and slovenly than VP Mike Pence. Most remarkably, no one in the room puked during this nauseating performance! https://t.co/hm9L2MF9Mh
— John Dean (@JohnWDean) January 3, 2019
This is nauseating. More importantly, someone needs to ask Whitaker for evidence, proof & stats from DOJ to back up these claims that a wall will stop the flow of drugs or reduce MS-13. These are political talking points & as head of DOJ he needs to do better than that. https://t.co/o5pGq0S4zO
— Mimi Rocah (@Mimirocah1) January 3, 2019
No place for sycophants in the AG’s seat at this table & that’s all Whitaker is. The idea Trump gets points for being at the WH over Christmas while many of his employees are concerned about paying their rent or buying food because of his temper tantrum is offensive.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) January 3, 2019
Acting AG Whitaker, in front of the cameras, to Trump: “Mr President, I just adore you. You are the greatest American who’s ever lived. I would love to get you your coffee every morning. Please? You’re so wonderful.”
Trump nodded in approval. https://t.co/zQUiWWPpKt
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 2, 2019
Dear Acting Attorney General @MattWhitaker46: If you haven’t been replaced yet, I look forward to questioning you under oath in front of the American people. My first question to you will be: did you take a loyalty oath to @realDonaldTrump?#ChangeIsComing https://t.co/upEFOy3G3x
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 3, 2019
Is he a Republican Congressman or the Attorney General? This is an embarrassment to the Department of Justice. https://t.co/CmFctHPu4U
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) January 3, 2019
The AG is supposed to exemplify DOJ’s independence. https://t.co/P89WXO2EPF
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) January 3, 2019
Former White House staffer in the Carter Administration, James Fallows, also chimed in.
Look, I worked as a White House staff member.
It would have been *inconceivable* for even a lowly staff member to be this servile and obviously truckling in a public setting, let alone a Cabinet member (albeit acting).
Any other WH staff vets disagree? https://t.co/JIraMmmwcQ
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) January 2, 2019
And other former White House staffers responded.
Based on what I saw from my (limited) perch as a WH staffer in regular senior staff meetings, @BarackObama and certainly @RahmEmanuel would have reassigned away from the EOP anyone who showed that kind of abject obsequiousness – a sign of spinelessness and bad character.
— Andrew McLaughlin (@McAndrew) January 3, 2019
It’s North Korean in its absurdity.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 2, 2019
Clearly, Whitaker is nothing but a Trump toady who should be forced to recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation or resign. He is unfit for public office, as is anyone else who willfully sucks up to Trump. This is the kind of behavior seen in authoritarian nations, not the United States.
Featured Image: Screenshot
