Angry Trump Walks Out of Meeting with Democrats

 

American President Donald Trump¹ on Wednesday unexpectedly ended a meeting with Democratic lawmakers on infrastructure² spending. The president later explained he would no longer work with Democrats³ unless they drop all investigations⁴ related to the special counsel’s report on Russia election interference and contacts with the Trump campaign.

After walking out of the meeting, Trump spoke⁵ with reporters who had gathered outside the White House. He attacked comments made earlier Wednesday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in which she accused the president of a “cover-up.”

“I don’t do cover-ups,” Trump told reporters. He also accused Democrats of holding a meeting the same morning to discuss what he called “the I word” -- impeachment⁶. That is the process set up by the U.S. Constitution for Congress to remove a president from office.

The president said he told Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he wanted to make an infrastructure deal more than they did. But he said, “You can’t do it under these circumstances. So get these phony investigations over with.”

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is seeking to investigate materials and witnesses related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russia and the Trump campaign. Trump has repeatedly said he and his advisers⁷ do not need to answer lawmakers’ requests for information.

The meeting at the White House had been set weeks ago, after Trump and the Democratic leaders agreed to talk more about a possible $2-trillion infrastructure proposal. Trump was expected to provide the Democrats his ideas on how to pay for it. Schumer said when Trump “was forced to say how he would pay for it he had to run away.”

Pelosi added, “He just took a pass. And it just makes me wonder why he did that.” She called Trump’s actions Wednesday “very, very, very strange” and said she was “praying” for the country and the president.

Later on Wednesday, Pelosi spoke at the Center for American Progress in Washington. She said, "This is why I think the president was so steamed off this morning: Because the fact is in plain sight...this president is obstructing⁸ justice and he's engaged in a cover up. And that could be an impeachable⁹ offense¹⁰."

On Twitter, Trump accused Democrats in Congress of “tearing the United States apart.” He added, “You can’t investigate and legislate¹¹ at the same time.”

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

infrastructure - n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

circumstance - n. a condition or fact that affects a situation

phony -adj. not true, real, or genuine

steamed off - phrasal verb To leave in a very angry way.

engage in - phrasal verb. to do (something)

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

7 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

8 obstructing   

阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止

参考例句：

• You can't park here, you're obstructing my driveway. 你不能在这里停车，你挡住了我家的车道。
• He was charged for obstructing the highway. 他因阻碍交通而受控告。

9 impeachable   

adj.可控告的，可弹劾的

参考例句：

• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• The government officer committed an impeachable offence. 那位政府官员犯了可能招致弹劾的罪行。 来自辞典例句

10 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

11 legislate   

vt.制定法律；n.法规，律例；立法

参考例句：

• Therefore,it is very urgent to legislate for the right of privacy.因此，为隐私权立法刻不容缓。
• It's impossible to legislate for every contingency.为每一偶发事件都立法是不可能的。