Trump Reacts to Ex-VA Nominee Jackson Dropping Out: ‘They Are Trying to Destroy a Man’
President Donald Trump called into Fox & Friends this morning to blast Democratic lawmakers for destroying the reputation of his former pick for Veterans Affairs secretary, as the president claimed the allegations against Dr. Ronny L. Jackson are “all false.”
Trump, who was reacting to Jackson withdrawing his name from the running to lead the VA, continued by touting his pick’s record, despite appearing to suggest that he should drop out on Tuesday due to the “ugly and disgusting” process.
In a Fireside Chat for our current time, Trump told the Fox News hosts the following while speaking over the phone:
“We can talk about experience but the VA, when you think about 13 million people, you could take the head of the biggest hospital corporation of the world and it’s peanuts compared to the VA. So nobody has experience. You know, it’s a big monster… But I want somebody that is going to be great. He would have a done a great job. Tremendous heart. These are all false accusations. These are false. They are trying to destroy a man. By the way, I did say welcome to Washington. Welcome to the swamp. Welcome to the world of politics”
Trump added that he is working on finding a replacement nominee for Jackson, who will be “somebody great,” “with political capability.”
As for Jackson dropping out, the doctor claimed the allegations of misconduct against him are “completely false and fabricated,” but added that the controversy around his nomination became “a distraction,” which led him to drop out.
The claims against Jackson, leveled in a summary published by Democratic lawmakers, cite claims that he was “abusive” to coworkers, carelessly gave out prescriptions for painkillers, and was intoxicated while on the job.
Watch above, via Fox News.
[images via screengrab]
