'She only had one question': Psaki’s never-before-told story about Trump aide Hope Hicks

>> MY FIRST INTERACTION WITH SOME OF HIS SENIOR AIDES WAS IN NOVEMBER 2016 TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION AND IT IS STILL ONE OF MY CLEAREST MEMORIES FROM THAT POINT OF TIME. THE DAY HE VISITED THE WHITE HOUSE. HE MET WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA IN THE OVAL OFFICE. WELL THAT WAS HAPPENING HIS SON IN LAW TOOK A WALK WITH THEM AROUND THE GROUNDS. THE PRESS SECRETARY AT THE TIME POINTED OUT IN THE BRIEFING ROOM THAT DAY HE BROUGHT SOMEONE ELSE ALONG TO THAT DAY.>> THE SPOKESWOMAN WAS HERE. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER WHILE THE PRESIDENT-ELECT WAS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA. NOTED THAT SHE ALSO HAD LONGER MEETINGS WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. >> THAT WAS THE WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR AT THE TIME. I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SAT DOWN WITH HOPE HICKS WHEN SHE VISITED WITH HIM. OUT OF ALL THE THINGS SHE COULD HAVE ASKED ABOUT. IT WAS TWO DAYS AFTER A SHOT OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION. SHE HAD A MAJOR QUESTION. I TO GET THE PRESIDENT TO APPROVE EVERY STATEMENT THAT GOES OUT IN HIS NAME? SO WE TOLD HER HOW WE DID THINGS AND IF WE NEED A STATEMENT TO COMMEMORATE NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE TO APPROVE IT. IF IT'S A MORE SIGNIFICANT ONE HE DOES AND WORKS WITH US ON IT AND HER RESPONSE WAS INTERESTING. SHE SAID MR. TRUMP WILL WANT TO APPROVE EVERYTHING. MADE CLEAR TO ME WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THINGS PR HER BOSS WAS THE DEFINITION OF A MICROMANAGER. FAST FORWARD TO FRIDAY AND THAT IS EXACTLY HOW HOPE HICKS PER TRADE HIM WHEN SHE TESTIFIED AGAINST HIM IN A COURTROOM. WE ARE ALL JUST FOLLOWING HIS LEAD. IT IS A VERY BIG AND SUCCESSFUL COMPANY BUT IS ROUND LIKE A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS. HERE IS THE TAKE AWAY. HOW COULD HE BE AWARE OF THE BIG THINGS? AT ONE POINT HE PAINTED A VIVID PICTURE OF THE PANIC INSIDE THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AFTER THE INFAMOUS ACCESS HOLLYWOOD TAPE WAS REVIEWED IN THE ATTEMPTS AT DAMAGE CONTROL THAT FOLLOWED. SHE HAD A GOOD SENSE TO BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A MASSIVE STORY AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO DOMINATE THE NEWS CYCLE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AND THAT THIS WAS A DAMAGING DEVELOPMENT. FIRST OF ALL, NO KIDDING. DID ANYONE NOT RECOGNIZE THIS WAS GOING TO DOMINATE NEWS COVERAGE AND BE EXTREMELY DAMAGING? PUT THAT ASIDE. WHAT IS EVEN MORE DAMAGING WAS HER TESTIMONY ABOUT A CONVERSATION SHE HAD WITH TRUMP WHEN THE STORMY DANIELS WENT PUBLIC IN 2018. SHE TESTIFIED TRUMP TOLD HER MICHAEL COHEN HAD PAID OFF DANIELS WITHOUT HIS DIRECTION OR KNOWLEDGE, BUT SHE DOUBTED THE COVER STORY. SHE SAID I WOULD BE OUT OF CHARACTER FOR MIL. ALSO SAYING I THINK MR. TRUMP'S OPINION WAS IT WAS BETTER AT DEALING WITH IT. NOW SAID IT

Channel: MSNBC

Views: 281,273

Keywords: Jen Psaki

Id: HnLAuCAXYJ0

Length: 4min 23sec (263 seconds)

Published: Sun May 05 2024