Anonymous White House Sources Claim John Kelly Upset with Ivanka Trump’s Trip to South Korea
This article from CNN sounds like another attempt to create tension between President Trump and John Kelly. It is pretty clear that there are people in the White House that do not like the order Kelly has brought and accusing him of taking shots at Ivanka Trump could be attempt to get the President to remove him:
The decision to send her to South Korea did not sit well with some senior officials in the West Wing, two people familiar with the situation told CNN. The nuclear threat from North Korea and the tensions already boiling across the Korean Peninsula made any US delegation far more than ceremonial.Kelly was not initially enthusiastic about her South Korea trip, a person close to President Donald Trump said, largely because the visit to the Korean Peninsula was far more than a typical Olympic closing ceremony.“This isn’t like going to Italy. The stakes are far higher and more complex,” a person close to the President said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject of the Trump family.The concerns of Kelly and others about Ms. Trump — who has little experience in government or diplomacy, and hasn’t played a role in discussions about North Korea — were aired in private, according to people familiar with the matter. Kelly was advised by those closest to him that it would be a losing battle to oppose Ivanka as the delegation’s leader. [CNN]
You can read more at the link, but it wasn’t like she was leading a team to negotiate with the North Koreans. She was sent to attend the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics which is something she more than capable of doing. It seems to me that Ivanka Trump was best person to send to South Korea to off set the positive media coverage that Kim Yo-jong received during her visit to South Korea. From everything reported Ivanka Trump had a great trip and received positive publicity from the visit.
“You can read more at the link, but it wasn’t like she was leading a team to negotiate with the North Koreans.”
It’s hard to determine what today’s news-as-entertainment-all-the-time channel will pick as the outrage of the day.
My question is why and how are all these statements made in private meetings going public?
Ivanka did a better charm offensive than Pence in winning hearts. She should have just done both of them and put the NORK Cheshire Cat in her place.
@Liz, many times I wonder how true many of these anonymous quotes are? I really think people who don’t like Kelly are using the media to try and drive him out. Many in the media seem to not care about the motivations of these sources, they just want the big headline whether it is true or not is a secondary concern.
@J6Junkie, I agree that Ivanka was a way better person to send and would have likely mitigated the positive media attention that Kim Yo-jong received if she went to the opening ceremonies. Despite media attempts to demonize her she just comes across as a likable person.
Believing CNN is a sucker play. They make up more stuff than they actually uncover. Any time their logo is attached to something Trump-related, I send it straight to the Recycle Bin…
Any story from CNN and any article that says ‘anonymous source’ I immediately dismiss as lies.