Trump Says He Is In for Debates and Wants to Honor Rush Limbaugh

The White House declined to discuss the president’s remarks. “I actually have ethics so I’m not going to comment on an off-the-record lunch,” said Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary.

The president had tough words for John Bolton, his former national security adviser, complaining that Mr. Bolton wanted to be referred to as “ambassador” and saying that Mr. Bolton “turned on me” by writing a book that includes unflattering portrayals of Mr. Trump’s behavior.

As for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will stand on the dais beside Mr. Pence during the State of the Union, Mr. Trump said the two had not spoken in some time. “There’s one person behind me who’s going to be friendly and one who’s not going to be friendly,” the president said, referring to his Tuesday evening address.

With a Diet Coke at his side, Mr. Trump spoke of his regret about Mr. Limbaugh’s medical diagnosis, saying that he had recently spoken with the talk-radio host and Mr. Limbaugh had offered no hint of his illness.

Asked about this fall’s general election debates, Mr. Trump repeated his recent complaints that “Never Trumpers” sit on the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonpartisan group that organizes the events. But the president said he had decided to participate, because he believed his debate performances helped him win support from voters in the 2016 campaign.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/04/us/politics/donald-trump-news.html?emc=rss&partner=rss