After six weeks of keeping the nation hanging, President Donald Trump finally admitted through a tweet on Thursday morning there is no tape of his conversation with former FBI director James Comey. In a commentary about Trump’s admission, The Washington Post states that it was not just another bluff from Trump.
The opinion piece pointed out the potential existence of the tape was “a very thinly veiled threat against Comey.” The influential newspaper criticized the president and the White House for keeping the truth when the question could easily be answered by a “yes” or “no” reply.
...whether there are "tapes" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2017
Chipping away at Trump’s credibility
The Post said the president’s bluff was no ordinary one because it further eroded his credibility. His ally, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, had admitted to Associated Press Trump was only bluffing to rattle Comey who refused to bow down to Trump. Gingrich even defended the president’s strategy as Trump is not a professional politician, and possibly thought he could out bluff the head of an intelligence agency.
The newspaper pointed out the truth about the Comey tape is just one of the long list of bluffs Trump has pulled on the U.S.
Other instances include the vote on the health care bill and a government shutdown if Congress will not fund the border wall.
Trump was finally forced to admit there are no tapes because Friday, June 23, is the deadline set by the House Intelligence Committee for the president to turn over any tapes of Trump’s conversation with Comey, if there are any, The New York Post reported.
After Trump’s tweet, Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the committee, said the president must still answer questions about the non-existent tape.
Among the questions that Schiff wants Trump to answer are why did he suggest there are possible tapes and was it an attempt to mislead the public? He also wants to know if it was an attempt to silence Comey.
Brazen brand of bluffing
The Post minced no words in stating Trump has trouble with facts as well an obvious disregard for the truth. It described what the real estate billionaire did as “pretty unapologetic political nihilism.” The op-ed noted the kind of bluffing Trump did is quite common in real estate and business. The only good thing about Trump’s tweet, the Post said, is the charade is finally done.
So you threatened James Comey with tapes that you never had? You basically tried to use the office of the president to intimidate a witness
— Mario Velarde (@MarioV7) June 22, 2017
In his battle of credibility with James Comey, @realDonaldTrump today admitted he did a fake tweet about nonexistent tapes
— Michael Keaton (@RealMikeKeaton) June 23, 2017
King Trump: He lied to James Comey saying hit possible tapes of their conversation. Threatening, intimidation and bullying. President liar.
— J.A.Y (@jyribe) June 22, 2017
The New York Daily News added that with the truth out about the Comey tapes, it is about time for Trump to also come clean with his March tweet.
It specifically cited his accusation that former President Barack Obama ordered a wiretap on the Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign. Since Trump has failed to prove that accusation and chose to keep silent on the matter, it will just add to the long list of bluffs the president made in public, worsening his reputation as someone who does not tell the truth.
