White House shuts down press availability after Trump tweet admits collusion
The White House announced on Monday that President Donald Trump would not take any questions after he admitted on Twitter that his son may have colluded with Russians during the 2016 campaign.
In a tweet over the weekend, Trump reversed course on his explanation of a 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer in Trump Tower. The president had originally claimed that the meeting had been about adoptions. But in his Sunday tweet, Trump admitted that the purpose of the meeting had been to get damaging information about Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee.
On Monday, White House correspondents reported that the White House had issued a “lid” on presidential travel and questions from the press.
JUST IN: White House announces a travel/photo lid, which means no public appearances by Trump today as new questions swirl around that 2016 Trump Tower meeting to get dirt on Hillary Clinton.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) August 6, 2018
The White House has issued a "lid" for the day, essentially telling reporters that we will not see the president until at least tomorrow. He is having dinner with supporters tonight at his Bedminster property in NJ, per prior guidance.
— Francesca Chambers (@fran_chambers) August 6, 2018
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also had not scheduled a Monday briefing by the time of publication.