Trump After Dark: A Day Later edition

For all his political strengths, consoling the nation has never been a natural skill for President Donald Trump.

A day after a horrific shooting at high school in Parkland, Florida President Trump spoke for the first time about the shooting that left 17 dead. Trump said he planned to visit Parkland and discuss mental health issues. His speech was somber, but not nearly as affecting as his predecessors, POLITICO’s Edward-Isaac Dovere reports.


“He said he planned to meet with governors and attorneys general later in the month to discuss ways to keep schools safe … He didn’t mention the word guns. The overall effect was dutiful, and unmemorable — with nothing like the searing moment of President Barack Obama wiping his eyes at the White House briefing room lectern as he talked about the murder of schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012.”

Meanwhile, more facts surrounding the horror in Parkland came to the fore.

Including ones that contradicted President Trump’s wish during his speech that more people had reported the troubles of the shooter, Nikolas Cruz.

It turns out, many had, POLITICO’s Caitlin Emma, Brianna Ehley and Daniel Ducassi report .

“Cruz … had been barred from bringing a backpack to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School because he was threatening other students and, after repeated disciplinary run-ins, was finally expelled last year. Neighbors say he harassed them and police were called to his house many times … He had also been receiving mental health treatment, but stopped going to the clinic.”

Despite that, Cruz “legally purchased the AR-15 that he used to gun down his former classmates.”

Elsewhere in President Trump’s orbit:

DREAM DIES?: The Senate drive for a bipartisan immigration deal blew up today, leaving Dreamers in limbo and the issue at something of a stalemate.

KELLY FILE: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is pushing White House chief of staff John Kelly to face the press and explain his version of events on departure of staff secretary Rob Porter, who was accused by two ex-wives of domestic violence.

THAT’S A WALKOFF MONEY: President Trump’s inaugural committee paid $26 million to an event planning firm created by Stephanie Wilson Wolkoff, an adviser to first lady Melania Trump. The firm was created in December 2016. (The New York Times)

PRIEBUS REPORTING IS TRUE: Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus says that reports of dysfunction and chaos in the Trump White House are basically true — and actually 50 times worse than reported.

GENERAL CARE: Vanity Fair reports that Priebus convinced Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to resign after Trump ripped into him for recusing himself from the Russia investigation.

PEOPLE’S HOUSE: The White House will release some visitors logs after all, for some departments including the Office of Management and Budget and the drug czar’s office.

LEGAL STORM: The admission by Trump attorney Michael Cohen that he personally paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 raises new legal questions. (The New York Times)

BANNON’S WEEK: Former White House senior strategist Steve Bannon spent hours with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators this week. He limited his interactions with the House Intelligence Committee today.

There you have it. You’re caught up on the Trump administration. Thursday is finished.