Talk about a strange relationship. Just a couple of weeks ago Axios reported, “Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has verbally resigned to Chief of Staff John Kelly in anticipation of being fired by President Trump.” What happened after that is still in question. The White House later said Rosenstein was still on the job, but that Trump would meet him in the coming week. That week came and went as the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation took priority in Trump world. So until today, it appeared Rosenstein’s fate was in limbo. Because of this, it came as a surprise when press crews saw Rosenstein boarding Air Force One with Trump this morning, heading for an event in Florida.
Deputy AG Rosenstein has been asked to accompany President Trump on Air Force One to a police chiefs' convention in Orlando today, Justice Dept. official says – @PeteWilliamsNBC
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) October 8, 2018
President Trump says he has “a good relationship” with Rod Rosenstein, other than “there’s been no collusion.”
The President says he has no plans to fire the Deputy AG, who oversees the Mueller investigation. pic.twitter.com/2h4Y54ztQq
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 8, 2018
Pres Trump steps off Air Force One in Orlando, followed by Chief of Staff John Kelly and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. pic.twitter.com/jsrzsjqhGz
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 8, 2018
During their meeting, Trump and Rosenstein talked about “general DOJ business” per WH spokesman to WH pool. (General business like what exactly?) pic.twitter.com/o3wLRWtrAW
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 8, 2018
President Trump on discussion with Deputy AG Rosenstein aboard Air Force One: “We had a very good talk.” pic.twitter.com/v5WkNr7Pga
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 8, 2018
While Rosenstein still has a job, some political analysts say Trump may just be waiting until after the election to take action. The Washington Post recently reported:
While it remained possible that Rosenstein could still resign or be fired imminently, people inside and outside the department said it seemed increasingly more likely that Rosenstein would stay in the job until after November’s elections and then depart, probably along with the attorney general. Two White House officials said Tuesday that Trump is unlikely to fire Rosenstein until after the midterms.
Beyond the bizarre back and forth with whether his job is safe or not, this “meeting” today has people talking for other reasons as well?
Anyone remember the outrage when an AG and a former POTUS, whose spouse was a subject of investigation, met on an airplane?
Where’s the outrage from those same people when an acting AG and a sitting POTUS, who is a subject of investigation, meet on an airplane?
Crickets. https://t.co/sbliW73TTK
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) October 8, 2018