USA Today shed its usual stoicism, dropping a nasty editorial Tuesday blasting President Donald Trump and GOP allies over comments he made about “shithole countries” during a close-door meeting last week about immigration.
“It’s bad enough that the president of the United States is an inveterate liar. It’s even worse when members of Congress and his Cabinet feel compelled to lie on his behalf,” the paper wrote. “No legislative priority is worth sacrificing your credibility to protect a president with so little regard for decency and honesty.”
The paper also took a dim view of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and her testimony Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“Kirstjen Nielsen, who was also present at the meeting and has a vested interest in not crossing her boss, testified under oath Tuesday that there was ‘tough language’ but she ‘did not hear that word used,’” said the paper.
“Sure. Whatever,” the editorial board added dismissively.
While the widely circulated hotel favorite is generally known to avoid dropping the hammer, it’s not the first time Trump has caused the paper to break the mold.
Only last month, the paper called the president “not fit for office” after accusing him of making sexually charged remarks about Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in an early-morning tweet storm.
“A president who’d all but call a senator a whore is unfit to clean toilets in Obama’s presidential library or to shine George W. Bush’s shoes,” the paper snapped.