Attorney General William Barr held a press conference on Thursday to discuss the findings of Robert Mueller’s report, ahead of a release of a heavily redacted public version that may do no good to anyone. During the press conference, Barr once again repeated that the investigation did not establish a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, but admitted that the findings established 10 “episodes” involving Trump and possible obstruction-of-justice.
Yet, Barr said that he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein concluded that the evidence was “not sufficient to establish” that Trump committed obstruction, basically justifying Trump’s behavior. Via the Daily Beast:
“And as the special counsel’s report acknowledges, there is substantial evidence to show that the president was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency, propelled by his political opponents, and fueled by illegal leaks,” Barr said.
Later, while taking questions from highly-skeptical reporters, a HuffPost journalist asked if it was improper for Barr to be “spinning the report before the public has a chance to read it,” and he abruptly walked off stage.
Democrats are prepared to sue the Justice Department to see the entirety of Mueller’s findings, but Trump still took the events that transpired on Thursday as a win. Immediately after the press conference ended, the president tweeted out yet another Game of Thrones-style meme (his first arrived ahead of the midterm elections) declaring GAME OVER.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2019
The tweet left many wondering if Trump has ever even seen a Game of Throne, because if he had, he might realize the irony about comparing himself to a show about incest and a failed wall, among other things. Others just made jokes or marveled at the sheer inappropriateness and timing of the tweet.
https://twitter.com/davidgura/status/1118876949248659458
This dude has zero elephants. pic.twitter.com/qK4u3U2U7L
— R. Eric Thomas (@oureric) April 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/DerfelMacGuffin/status/1118882153645969409
Pres tweets his assessment of the Barr news conference on the Mueller Report. Had campaign-style graphic ready. https://t.co/fLnhtjv5Es
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 18, 2019
Who needs Game of Thrones when the US has its own #MadKing Donald Trump? True leaders bring people together.
His attacks on @IlhanMN right after she received death threats make him an accomplice.
2020 election can’t get here soon enough.— Randy Bryce (@IronStache) April 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/OliviaMesser/status/1118880936748298240
Speaking of Game of Thrones, Littlefinger is a pretty accurate nickname for Trump. https://t.co/tpZNKOEqt8
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) April 18, 2019
Building walls, incest, rape, corrupt rulers, you know stuff in Game of Thrones that people don’t connect to Donald Trump at all. pic.twitter.com/zy8AnR8rJV
— Rose by another name (@tweetfromarose) April 18, 2019
Just moments after Barr said "no collusion" over and over again, President Trump releases this meme. https://t.co/GlnekrIHjt
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) April 18, 2019
Trump is set to appear publicly at 10:30 at a White House event for wounded warriors. https://t.co/ngo9a9MCji
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/JohnRossBowie/status/1118892640110440448
This is hilarious. Is he the Night King? https://t.co/Ssw5LOsUzT
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) April 18, 2019
Trump is no Night King, that’s for sure. Definitely more of a Joffrey or a Walder Frey type.