After a new Washington Post report that President Donald Trump has suggested to federal officials that he would pardon them if they broke the law and ignored regulations in order to fast-track construction of his promised southern border wall before the 2020 election, a senior White House official insisted on Wednesday that the president was only"joking."
Chants of “finish the wall!” are common at the president’s campaign rallies, with Trump promising his supporters that over 400 miles of wall will be complete by the end of 2020. As of the end of July, 54 miles worth of wall has been renovated under the president, but the latest information provided shows there has yet to be any new construction in areas where a barrier did not previously exist.
In constructing the new wall, officials say it remains a priority to the president that the new structure be painted a flat black. Beyond the aesthetic of a towering black fence, officials say the coating serves a practical deterrent, as the coating makes the surface hot to touch in the desert heat and makes it hard to climb.
Gidley pushed back against internal criticisms, disregarding them as “just more fabrications by people who hate the fact the status quo, that has crippled this country for decades, is finally changing as President Trump is moving quicker than anyone in history to build the wall, secure the border and enact the very immigration policies the American people voted for.”
Wow, that's bad, he doesn't need to be joking about something like that...........he needs to just go ahead and damn do it cause like 80% odd the American people are behind him and will support him on it. buildthewall ourcountry
His Presidency is a big fat joke.
The Left looks for anything to attack The President!!! 🤐You people need to look in your CORRUPT closets for what is being covered up! 👎😖🖤
Yep excuses ha.
He is a criminal and has broken many laws and now this. I can’ t think of another low life who. was President. What will it take to have Republicans speak out against this baffoon?
Buh bye
Was he joking when he asked them to break the law too? Oh and Russia...if you are listening. All Joker but NO JOKE!
For every lie told by trump, there are more by his staff & resident sycophants. No morals, no ethics, no credibility...
Trump should buy the New York Times when he is done in 6 years ha
Trump wasn’t joking...now he lies and denies and blames the press for his tweets... he really has lost it..
Ah! the mind of a CRIMINAL.
Comrade Trump's 'jokes' are never fucking funny.
Yes he’s a real joker 🇵🇷🌈🇺🇸
Bullmfingshit!
No he wasn't
Oh, and we’re to BELIEVE THEM!!! LMAO if it wasn’t so awful!!!
DementedDonald DerangedDonald Does not have a sense of humor.
This is what they do when something really stupid comes out of his mouth. 'he was joking'.. Yeah right.. Fukcing bull crap..
ONLY CONGRESS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARDON SOMEONE. POTUS PARDONS DRUG DEALERS
Trump is a lunatic !!! All he is doing is seeing how far he can push the limits of breaking the law. This man needs to be put in jail for treasonous behavior!!
I don’t believe a word of this. American is beyond the term “in trouble.”
How many times does he think we will fall for his “jus’ kidding”, pull my finger shtick?
TRUMP IS A JOKE !!! A very bad one. He makes the United States look like a country of idiots for electing him in the first place.
Such a jokester that 🤡
What happened to realDonaldTrump claim he never said it? Now it's he said it but was only joking.
The crazy is strong with this guy
When your word is basically law, joking isn’t something people are looking for. And of course, he’s full of shit.
The new “go to” explanation for his mania.
And Trump is mad about Lawrence O’Donnell’s possible mistake about Trump finances ... we can trust nothing the President says until he tells us it’s actually not a joke
Your news is bias and I never listen to what you say.
Trump don't joke unless he gets caught
BULLSHIT!
There's a short article that offers advice on breaking a psychic connection to a narcissist. If only staffers had the courage..........
Strongly suggest you sue ABC into bankruptcy!
He’s the best troller!
I.CAN’T.EVEN.
I find it incredible that a simple joke can create a national stir with all the left-wing crazies. I continue to state we have no news media we have whiny gossip mongers bought and paid for by the left-wing liberal establishment.
Another blatant attempt to circumvent the law. I'd bet the farm that he 'wasn't joking,', trump doesn't have the intelligence for humpr.
Yep he's always joking! That excuse has gotten way old
The hell he was.
Of course he was joking. Anyone who sees Trump for whohe is, knows he jokes alot. Its the media that twist his humor into their agenda of hate.
His entire presidency is a joke!!
So it wasn’t fake news
Such a funny, funny guy....vote him out in 2020 and let's get back to serious business.
Ah, of course he was.
So proof he said it then If regular people can get in trouble for alot of things we say Then the same for him There is alot of things we can't say & use 'just joking' a excuse So you just proved that it was said
He wouldn't know a joke if it hit him in the face. It's on his mind so he says it out loud.
Who thinks he's joking, oh yeah the Trump supporter
Joking? He sure does joke a lot and never really understands he is the President of the United States. By the way, not funny.
That’s a reasonable thing to joke about.
Trump is such a jokester
That's true …he jokes all the time …
“I was only joking” and “I feared for my life” are two ex post facto phrases that excuse a lot of bad behavior.
“The more serious thing are said joking”
He has not grown into his position as President. He doesn’t understand that all his glib statements are taken seriously, again not understanding the seriousness of being president.
Hmmm....his jokes aren't funny.
They are forever lying for him! America is not that stupid!
I am truly beginning to blame his supporters for not demanding his accountability!! They know he saying these crazy outlandish things and they’re not calling him on it!! They’ve created this out of control monster!!! My opinion, it’s still AMERICA!! For Now!!
His base doesn't think he was joking, and that's what concerns us.
the NOW standard response to trumps F88* ups............'it was just a joke'
Yeah right!!!!!
So disturbing and unbelievable!
He not joking, now you are lying
Lying and kidding, kidding and lying. What a muddled mess this administration is.
With him, it's no joke.
Lets see who joking in 2020.
Isn't it interesting how anytime he says something and people call him on his bullshit it immediately becomes a joke? 🤔
Well that's probably the only true thing he's said in awhile. He probably had no intention of pardoning them after a crime was committed.
Trump has no sense of humor. So, no, he wasn’t joking.
Sure!
The Leaders were laughing at him and the United States. We are no longer respected. We are now regarded with pity. No longer a great Nation. Oh how the mighty has fallen. Thanks to Trump and his base with vote of the Electoral College. From the rest of us -We do not Thank You.
Tried of aids walking back what Trump says with tbe o so familiar line, 'he was joking', no words are words, amd he accountable for what he says. He was not joking, do not believe Trump ever told a joke or laughed at one.
As he has done it before the times for jokes has come to an end. Trump is now the joke. We are the laughing stock of the world. His subservient attitude toward Putin and G7 was an embarrassing moment. The Lesders
He knows what he said. Now he’s trying to take it back as usual! The Orange Twinkie sinks!
Trump's not joking, he would pardon them. He doesn't care if the majority of the people can't stand him or not. As long as he doesn't lose his white national supporters. he's going to need them when he looses the election after he claims that it was rigid.
Right!
Aren’t they getting tired of having to say this? We’re tired of hearing it.poorexcuse
I love his sense of humor and he puts MSM into a total tail spin while he just carries on Making America Grest Again.
BS
Trup running the country HIS way, via lies, via corruption, via hatred. Trump WANTS that wall and he is willing to break the law to get it built,..... one way or the other.
But not about the doing all the illegal stuff...he loves that part.
BlakelyAdrian Liar.
Unacceptable response. Why do we and the media accept these BS responses? Maddening
So as usual this latest crime went from, fake news it never happened, to, I was only joking, in about two hours. Gotta love it.
That is bull crap he means everything that comes out of his mouth! Until people react then it is”oh i was only kidding” not fit to be leader and chief
He’s been “joking” a lot lately that must be his new word for “lie”. realDonaldTrump
So was Arpaio's pardon a joke too?
DT says this was a made up story but a “Senior Official” says that DT was just joking. They need to better coordinate their lies. 🇺🇸
Oh sure. He has been extremely funny in the last few days. Particularly about PR been hit by hurricane again. Sooo funny! Yes we called Dorian and made the appointment like with Irma and Maria and sent them the maps app 📍. Sure 🙄😏🤦🏻♀️ Now seriously, has he been checked lately?
Interpretation realDonaldTrump is a joke, that lease don’t listen to him
He has a sense of humor?
Nope. The only kidding bit isn't working. He might want to stop.
Back tracking again?
Will the Don pardon Mexico for not sending Wall Money ?
Weak borders should of been fixed year's ago & House speaker Nacy along with all democrats should be made to pay for it being they are the one's that overlook border security trying to gain illegal votes.
Oh yes, a joke...
No one cares what ABC Socialist=Dem=Liberal hate news thinks.
We not buying the old, 'I was just joking' excuse anymore when you say something unlawful. Your base excuse your unholy lies by saying, 'he's not suppose to be preacher and chief'. Well neither are you suppose to be joker and chief, you will be held accountable for your words...
BS, this man doesn't joke. He lies, constantly, buy Joke? No way.
Rrrright 🙄
How can this man say he was joking when this sounds exactly like him. If he did not have this type of personality than we would believe him. But he does have this way of thinking.
Sure. We totally believe you.
Sure it was a joke. And the world is flat.
He's a funny guy. 🤡
Words have meanings nuf said
Liberals
Impeach that moron,,,, oh.... I am only joking!
That is his go to response anytime he is caught trying to get someone to break the law. Folks, this is no joke. To have someone in the WH even contemplate telling American citizens to break the law is dangerous.
Why is he always walk back joking? Did he win a spot on “Make Me Laugh”?
Boy, that Trump wit. He should be doing the late show at The Comedy Cabaret instead of playing President.
Yeah, right! Y'all must be dizzy sick having to clean up all realDonaldTrump 's messes. MorallyCorruptGOP
I notice every time 45 said something wrong or illegal. There someone telling us, what he really meant. Yet 45 suppose to be the president of the free world and can't speak for himself! He meant what said, and said what he meant. SO, STOP WITH THE FOOLISHNESS!
Sure
our baby for a president seems to only have people that says he was joking when he says something stupid which is all the time. That's all they have concerning reassurance to the americancitizens
Add 'joking' to the endless list of things realDonaldTrump doesn't comprehend.
Sure Jan.
He wasn’t joking he is desperate for something to happen for him
sean_prevost Yeah they use that a lot.
If he was joking, which he wasn't he should look for another place to be employed.
gtconway3d realDonaldTrump That age-old excuse to lie, belittle and bully- “I was just kidding.”
LeslieMarshall Criminals use that one all the time in court.
Trump is lying ,he said it ,although they are fools to believe him
Yeah bullshit lol
This guys always joking when he gets called out. Stupid SOB.
I was only joking, my dear Looking for a way to hide my fear What kind of fool was I? I could never win Now you ask me if I'm sincere That's the question that I always fear
Trump has zero sense of humor. Therefore, he cannot “joke,” and everything he says reflects his thinking in reality. So, the media should stop helping the WH lull us all into a false sense of security by normalizing his comments. His supporters take his words deadly seriously.
Always a joke after being called out on his vile stupidity. The reality is that he's the real joke.
What an utterly stupid thing to “joke” about. I don’t believe them.
This time I SURE he is telling the truth. This. Time....
BS!!!
I don’t think he was joking.
MorianTina We’re not buying, apparently you lack the charm and lying skills of your predecessor.
How many times have WH aides used that line to cover up for Trump?
TRASH TALK
He’s always “ just joking “ comedian you are NOT🙃
MorianTina Don’t give him a pass on this. realDonaldTrump is the joke.
And another joke..... he should be a stand up comedian. A very bad stand up comedian
Was he? Or was he giving on of those 'coded' messages that Cohen talked about?
Whatever happened to “Trump tells it like it is”?
Hes a joke alright to the world
He 'jokes' an awful lot....
all together now....
He is never joking...just testing the waters. NOT ONE SHAMEFUL REPUBLICAN SAID SQUAT. ..DID THEY Hope they all are paid back in spades when their re-election comes around. They ALL SIT SILENT. HORRIBLE!
Bull poop
Right and I got some land north of here for sale it is called Greenland. You know this is just another lie you have to have a sense of humor to tell a joke.
So, was it locker room humor, or garden variety sarcasm?
He doesn’t have a sense of humor. Doubt he even knows how to joke.
no joke. look at all the others he has encouraged to ignore court summons.
He is a habitual liar, and what he said was a lie!
Trump’s credibility is so shot, we don’t know if he’s joking or not
Let’s just try to NOT defend Trump and the way he talks and what it means it’s like putting lipstick on a pig it doesn’t work folks
President Bedbugs
Crump 🤡 really thinks he’s above the law and very untouchable can’t be stopped. So what he does it’s not wrong and this is his world and he can do it. Give it a few days or a week he’s going to try and make it happen. A disparate plea for that wall
I don't think so !
Spontaneous comments are admissible in court.
Joking about the pardons only
Oh, he was joking? Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
You gotta be extra slow up stairs to wanna keep lying and getting caught in each one.
But I guess he wasn't joking about breaking the law to fast track the wall?
formerrepublic7
Trump is the joke, a bad joke, a humorless little man-child who never laughs but often smirks at the fools who surround him. How someone who has no real friends, someone dogs avoid, gained a following is beyond my comprehension.
Yeah right.....
His usual walk-back response. WhiteHouse
disneymare Yup joking about nuclear bombs in hurricanes and joking about pardons. He has such great jokes.
Corruption, obstruction of justice, and authoritarianism aren’t very funny.
The “only joking” excuse isn’t working anymore. realDonaldTrump doesn’t have enough character to joke.
Come on grown as* people in a serious job(Trump administration), Trump ain't funny first of all and 2nd, the country is walking on egg shells because of a lot of issues, it's time to stop joking and get too work solving America's problems.
That is a lie. If it wwre true it is inappropriate. It's all bullshit.
The joker strikes again. He is potus and should know what he says is not taken the same way a private citizen is. If he hasn’t figured this out by now he should find another job
Trump always uses his standard excuse: 'well i was just joking-it's called sarcasm' whenever he F up's again and again...even his rabid trumpflakes are using that excuse when they're arrested for their hate crimes
Some things just aren't funny at all......
So when he get bash for comment like that he can go back and say he was joking naw bro u is a joke
I believe that, because according to many many MANY staff members, we have heard from day one how he is a “jokester!” 🙄🙄🙄
Right.
POTUS is such a LIAR. Such a CRIMINAL... AT BEST😤😡...if POTUS WAS LITERATE, perhaps he would/could READ the Good Book and take it to heart. Alas, he is not...We believe that our POTUS CANNOT READ, anything other than his name. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE📖📖📖!
Not funny
Once again ABC Fake News proves itself to be hateful and against America.
Russian owned and he meant every word
Not possible... President Trump doesn't have a sense of humor!
Isnt it funny that the response when he says something crazy or outrageous or racist or just plain mean is that he was only joking
Lawless America Everywhere Trump is the poster boy. Not accountable..... YET.
We all know what a great sense of humor realDonaldTrump has. For example, all of his cabinet choices have been jokes.
When things go sour then he is joking.
Oh BULLSH*T. He’s a crook. He has no qualms about breaking laws and doing shady sh*t to get what he wants.
He wasn’t joking he’s a tyrant evil devil
His “jokes” aren’t funny. Clearly he’s trying to send a message here to ignore existing rules and regulations.
This POTUS still doesn't understand that words matter.
Hilarious.
He’s like a teenager. He only characterizes this as a joke once he’s been exposed as having said it.
Proverbs 26:18-19 English Standard Version (ESV) 18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death 19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
Joke=testing the waters...never jokes. 😡
Donald is most certainly not joking...🤨
Regardless whether he was joking or not, he said it! It’s not fake news if he actually said it.
Press Sec must have that answer prerecorded. Seems to be used frequently. And OBTW is a lame useless answer as well.
A joke: how realDonaldTrump explains away clearly irrational and illegal statements
So they in essence admitted he said it. Impeachable.
Oh, looks who's trying to cover his a$$ again.
They admit he said it. They admit Trump offered pardons to his aides, if they willingly commit crimes to carry out his orders.
Trump doesn't joke. He only lies and insults.
Bullshit LockHimUp
I guess Trump speaks a foreign language because he seems to always need an entrepreneur.
Who actually believes this? (Answer: Trump supporters only)
Sounds like they just confirmed the story.
When you have to get a spokesperson or lawyer to explain a joke, the joke was never funny in the first place.
America isn’t laughing any more.
realDonaldTrump, so you were joking about the pardons. Were you joking about them breaking the law to fast-track your ugly hate wall.
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