The Week in White House Drama – Russia and Affair Allegations (Again)

This week in White House drama features ongoing troubles concerning Russia, the President’s various affairs, and the administration’s battles over immigration. Concerning the Trump family, Ivanka says goodbye to her clothing empire and Melania is scolded for watching CNN.

The Big Drama

The biggest stories of the week, once again, were about Russia. President Trump started the week by doing a complete reversal on Russia, starting with disinviting Russian President Vladimir Putin from the White House. While this is good for Trump’s domestic image – and the nerves of GOP leaders – this reversal seemed to be a reaction to the critics rather than a decision the President made on his own. The decision was also tempered by the President’s vow to host Putin at some other time, then stating that he is open to

The decision was also tempered by the President’s vow to host Putin at some other time, additionally stating that he is open to accepting Putin’s invitation to visit the Kremlin. It seems that Trump has not learned from the criticism of the past few months – promising to visit the Kremlin while being investigated for colluding with Russia screams “guilty.”

Speaking of guilty, accused Russian spy Maria Butina had an interesting dinner with another possible Russian spy. Butina met with Oleg Zhiganov, who leads the Russian Cultural Center, which U.S. intelligence agencies have long thought to be a recruitment center for spies. This meeting is suspicious and adds on to other information leaked this week – that Butina has offered sex for a job at an unnamed organization, and used her past advocacy for gun rights to infiltrate the NRA.

All of the information released about Butina is very embarrassing for gun rights members of the GOP and the Trump Administration. Both not only advocate for guns rights but against the claim that Russia interfered in the presidential election. By infiltrating the NRA to turn NRA voters in favor of Trump, it makes the NRA look bad and proves them incorrect about the Russia probe. Although unlikely, maybe this will make NRA and GOP members see that the Russia probe is not, as President Trump would say, a “witch hunt.”

More Drama Bombs

Unlike presidencies of the past, affair accusations are nothing more than the scandal of the week for the Trump administration. Last week we learned that former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen had a tape of the President working to cover up an affair before the election. This week, Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti claimed that there were multiple other women paid off before the election – a claim which would obviously do some damage to the President. Like the Russia probe, however, it seems like no evidence sticks to Trump long.

Scandals that are the most harmful to the President involve the press, and this week yet another scandal involving the press was added to the list. It seems that the drama surrounding Putin and Michael Cohen have upset the President enough to punish the reporters that broke the stories, like CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins. Collins was barred from attending an open press event because she asked questions about Michael Cohen, with the White House claiming the questions were “

Collins was barred from attending an open press event because she asked questions about Michael Cohen, with the White House claiming the questions were “inappropriate for that venue.” The Trump administration continuously clashes with the press, and has even called journalists the “enemy of the people.” With yet another slight against the press and the first amendment, it seems that that feud will only get worse.

Other Major Players

• President Trump was reportedly upset that Melania Trump was watching CNN on Air Force One this week. When asked about the report, the First Lady’s spokesperson stated that she can watch “any channel she wants.” It is nice to see Melania stand up for herself – through her spokesperson, of course.
• Ivanka Trump is shutting down her clothing company, citing her role as a White House senior advisor and first daughter as the reason for its closure. Ivanka’s fashion line had been the center of protest activity surrounding the Trump White House, with activists urging upset voters to stop buying her line following the election. Its shutdown has been seen as a victory and a strike against the President and his policies.