Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trump 'storms out and throws briefing papers across floor' after extraordinary televised row with Pelosi and Schumer

US president clashes with Democratic leaders over border wall funding

Tom Embury-Dennis
Wednesday 12 December 2018 14:08 GMT
Comments
Donald Trump's meeting with top Democrats descends into chaos in the Oval Office

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A frustrated Donald Trump reportedly threw briefing papers across the White House floor following his chaotic televised meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.

The US president repeatedly clashed with the Democratic congressional leaders on Tuesday over his desire for additional billions in border wall funding.

Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer were widely considered to have bested Mr Trump after the 72-year-old was goaded into admitting he would be “proud” to partially shut down the government if congress refuses to approve $5bn in border wall funding.

Following the dispute, Mr Trump “stormed out” of the Oval Office, and, holding a folder of briefing papers, “scattered them out of frustration – threw them across the room”, according to the LA Times’ White House reporter Eli Stokols.

Mr Trump felt Mr Schumer “got the better of him”, Mr Stokols told MSNBC, citing sources within the White House.

Such public scenes of disagreement in the Oval Office have rarely been seen by the US public. When Ms Pelosi appeared to protest about the in-front-of-the-cameras nature of the spat, Mr Trump said: “It’s called transparency.”

Ms Pelosi, the House minority speaker, later reportedly questioned the president’s “manhood” in a private meeting with Democrat colleagues.

She said Mr Trump “must have said the word ‘wall’ 30 times”, according to Politico, before adding: “I was trying to be the mom. But it goes to show you – you get into a tinkle contest with a skunk, you get tinkle all over you.

“It’s like a manhood thing with him – as if manhood can be associated with him. This wall thing.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in