Pick fights with allies, signal weakness to adversaries
-
This is presumably the same guy who was fired by Trump in 2018?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45249154
A speechwriter for the Trump administration has been fired following reports that he spoke at a white nationalist conference in 2016.
The White House confirmed to US media on Monday that aide Darren J Beattie, a former visiting instructor at Duke University, had been dismissed.
Mr Beattie had appeared on a panel at the HL Mencken Club conference, which is attended by white supremacists.
He told US media that he said "nothing objectionable" in his speech.
CNN first reported Mr Beattie's 2016 speech at the Mencken Club conference on Sunday.
Why US right-wing groups are on the rise
Trump’s shock troops: Who are the ‘alt-right’?
Mr Beattie told CNN that he did speak at that conference, and that he stood by his remarks "completely".
"In 2016 I attended the Mencken conference in question and delivered a stand-alone, academic talk titled 'The Intelligentsia and the Right.' I said nothing objectionable and stand by my remarks completely," he said in an email.
"It was the honour of my life to serve in the Trump Administration. I love President Trump, who is a fearless American hero, and continue to support him 100%. I have no further comment."
Mr Beattie had worked under Vince Haley, the president's head of speechwriting.
When the White House learned of CNN's investigation, Mr Beattie was first asked to step down, which he reportedly refused to do.
-
That’s the question that needs to be investigated. He could be in more than just two conflicts.
-
This is an appointed position and does not require confirmation?
-
Just imagine how much better leadership we'd have available if the DNC had stopped placating sociopathic influencers and their devotees.
-
My guess is that he will soon be leaving to "pursue other opportunities "
-
My guess is that he will soon be leaving to "pursue other opportunities "
@taiwan_girl One would hope so. He alone makes the administration impossible to defend, just as a reputational matter.
-
It's a bit weird, considering he was fired during the last Trump presidency. I was going to make a joke about Little Marco, then I realized he's 2 inches taller than me, the great lumbering klutz.
