Rep. Elijah Cummings corrects the lie Trump told the NYT about him

Not much news came out of Donald Trump’s March White House meeting with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. But weeks after the fact, in a New York Times interview, Trump completely, and significantly, misrepresented what Cummings told him about the potential Trump legacy: TRUMP: Elijah Cummings [a Democratic representative […]

By Katie Paris - April 06, 2017

But weeks after the fact, in a New York Times interview, Trump completely, and significantly, misrepresented what Cummings told him about the potential Trump legacy:

TRUMP: Elijah Cummings [a Democratic representative from Maryland] was in my office and he said, “You will go down as one of the great presidents in the history of our country.”

HABERMAN: Really.

TRUMP: And then he went out and I watched him on television yesterday and I said, “Was that the same man?”

[Laughter.]

TRUMP: But I said, and I liked him, but I said that was really nice. He said, in a group of people, “You will go down as one of the great presidents in the history of our country.” And then I watched him on television and I said, “Is that the same man that said that to me?”

Cummings responded to Trump’s comments in a statement to Shareblue:

During my meeting with the President and on several occasions since then, I have said repeatedly that he could be a great president if … IF … he takes steps to truly represent ALL Americans rather than continuing on the divisive and harmful path he is currently on.

According to Cummings’ office, Cummings told Trump that the actions he has taken to date are viewed negatively, not just by the people in his district, but by the majority of Americans.

Cummings offered the president a road map for changing his ways to help all Americans, including by investigating very real voter suppression instead of virtually nonexistent voter fraud, supporting legislation to reduce the prices being charged for prescription drugs, immediately stopping his horrible language about the Black community, and halting his blatant attacks on the immigrant community, as well as other issues.

He told the president that if he represented all Americans, he would have tremendous potential, and that he should start leading instead of tweeting.

Trump has blatantly twisted the words of an honorable member of Congress. Thankfully, Cummings has set the record straight.

Katie Paris