President Trump directed officials to deploy the National Guard to the southern border as part of a push to curb illegal immigration. | Alex Wong/Getty Images Trump After Dark: Will He Get Pruitt edition

Can EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt hold on?

Wednesday the White House said of Pruitt, who is embroiled in a series of ethics scandals, from his use of first-class plane tickets to a cushy rental agreement with an industry lobbyist, that it is “reviewing the situation.”


Pruitt and his allies have launched a fierce campaign to save his job, arguing that he is carrying out Trump’s deregulatory agenda, POLITICO’s Emily Holden, Alex Guillén and Andrew Restuccia report. It has included a media tour focused on conservative outlets and some chest thumping about his success enacting a conservative agenda.

“We are getting things done and that’s what’s driving these folks crazy, and I will tell you, the truth and the facts are on our side,” Pruitt said. “And we’re just going to keep pushing and keep telling the story and trusting the American people get it.”

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It may not be enough though, and Pruitt’s standing with the White House is clearly more tenuous:

“The White House has so far declined to come to Pruitt’s defense on the record, despite reports from at least one anonymous administration official that Trump and chief of staff John Kelly reassured the EPA chief in a pair of phone calls earlier this week.”

Elsewhere in Trump’s orbit:

GUARD DOWN: Trump directed officials to deploy the National Guard to the southern border as part of a push to curb illegal immigration.

MOVING TARGET?: Special counsel Robert Mueller is trying to entice Trump to talk to investigators by telling him he’s not currently the target of a criminal investigation. But lawyers say that can easily shift after an interview.

MONEY QUESTIONS: Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has been questioning Russian oligarchs, asking them whether they funneled donations to Trump’s campaign, CNN reports. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that the Trump administration is preparing fresh sanctions for some oligarchs.

LOW IS KEY: New White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow spent his third day on the job trying to calm markets and slow talk of a full-on trade war.

PRIME FOCUS: Amazon is effectively shrugging off taunts by Trump on Twitter and attacks on The Washington Post and its CEO, Jeff Bezos.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED: Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said he expects to “declassify as much as possible” about the record of Gina Haspel, Trump’s nominee to lead the CIA.

There you have it. You’re caught up on the Trump administration. Wednesday is in the books.

