In an early morning tweet, President Trump has called for the resignation of Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) over his allegations toward White House physician and former nominee for head of the Veterans Affairs Administration, Dr. Ronny Jackson.
The allegations against the nominee originated from more than 20 current and former members of the White House medical team that Jackson supervises and include claims of prescription drug misuse, creating a hostile work environment, and drunkenness on the job with an incident of DUI that resulted in the crash of a government vehicle. Dr. Jackson has denied the claims.
Trump’s anger over the allegations, which resulted in the withdrawal of the nomination of the poorly-vetted rear admiral, was aimed squarely at the Democratic Senator from Montana despite the fact that the Republican Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee Johnny Isakson (R-GA) co-signed the statement announcing the postponement of a hearing on the nomination earlier this week and shares concerns about Jackson’s capability to run the department, along with multiple Senators from both sides of the aisle.
Allegations made by Senator Jon Tester against Admiral/Doctor Ron Jackson are proving false. The Secret Service is unable to confirm (in fact they deny) any of the phony Democrat charges which have absolutely devastated the wonderful Jackson family. Tester should resign. The…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018
….great people of Montana will not stand for this kind of slander when talking of a great human being. Admiral Jackson is the kind of man that those in Montana would most respect and admire, and now, for no reason whatsoever, his reputation has been shattered. Not fair, Tester!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018
Senator Tester responded to the president’s tweets with a statement, according to The New York Times, that reminded Trump that he had signed eight bills that the Senator had sponsored that were aimed at making the Department of Veterans Affairs more accountable and responsive to veterans.
“It’s my duty to make sure Montana veterans get what they need and have earned, and I’ll never stop fighting for them as their senator,” Tester said.
Trump’s singling out of the Montana Democrat for resignation, besides being a typical demonstration of the president’s authoritarian instincts, is a highly politically-motivated move since Senator Tester is facing re-election this November in a state that Trump won by over 20%.
The president’s demand for Senator Tester’s resignation over accusations that he slandered Dr. Jackson sets a new high bar for hypocrisy for Trump who has averaged about six lies per day during the course of his administration and who famously spent most of the Obama administration spreading false allegations about the citizenship of the Honolulu-born president.
For once, Trump’s instincts are correct. Anyone in high office who slanders innocent people and spreads lies should resign immediately. You have the power to set that example, Mr. President, as we wait impatiently for you to tender it yourself.
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