Trump Today: President says it would be ‘unfortunate’ if Kavanaugh accuser Ford doesn’t testify

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This column provides a daily update on key presidential actions as well as comments, whether spoken aloud or on Twitter, by President Trump. Like the stock market, the deadline for Trump Today action is 4 p.m. Eastern time, even as we acknowledge that substantive news can and does occur after hours.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that it would be “unfortunate” if the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault does not testify, as he criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions anew before inspecting storm damage in the Carolinas.

FORD SHOWING UP WOULD BE ‘WONDERFUL’

Trump said if Christine Blasey Ford does not appear for a hearing on Monday, “that would be unfortunate.” Ford has called for a full probe by law enforcement before testifying about her accusations, which date back to when she was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17.

“If she shows up, that would be wonderful,” Trump told reporters before departing for North Carolina and South Carolina. “If she doesn’t show up, that would be unfortunate.” Republicans scheduled the session to hear from both Kavanaugh and Ford. Her lawyers said Tuesday, however, that they feared she would be questioned by senators “who appear to have made up their minds that she is ‘mistaken’ and ‘mixed up.’ ” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley told Ford’s attorneys it’s not the FBI’s role to probe such allegations.

‘DISAPPOINTED’ IN SESSIONS

In fresh comments about Sessions, Trump said he was “disappointed” in him “for many reasons.”

The president’s remarks to reporters follow the publication of an interview with the Hill in which he said, “I don’t have an attorney general. It’s very sad.” Trump said, “I’m not happy at the border, I’m not happy with numerous things, not just this.” Trump has long been critical of Sessions’s decision to recuse himself from the Russia collusion investigation. But he has demurred on whether he has considered firing him.

The president also said he wasn’t concerned about what his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, would tell prosecutors. “If he tells the truth, no problem,” said Trump about Manafort, who is cooperating with the special counsel’s probe into Russian election meddling.

MONEY PLEDGED FOR RECOVERY

In Cherry Point, N.C., Trump said he and Congress were ready to provide funds for Hurricane Florence recovery.

“We’re ready and they’re ready to do whatever we have to do to make this perfect,” Trump said at a news conference at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. “And that means, unfortunately, the money will be a lot, but it’s going to come as fast as you need it.”