MJ Lee, a political reporter for CNN, seems confused. In an article released through CNN entitled, “The Many Versions of a Donald Trump Meeting“, Lee compared the possible outcome between the September 3rd meeting between RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Trump to other meetings Trump has held in the past with other prominent figures, implying that Trump is not truthful regarding his business dealings as the two sides present a different narrative afterward.
First of all, handicapping a future meeting is not news, but we'll let that one go in respect for Ms. Lee. Rather, it is speculation. However, her article focused on events from yesterday’s news cycle, wherein Donald Trump exchanged heated Tweets with Club for Growth President David McIntosh. In Trump’s version of the meeting, “The President of the pathetic Club for Growth came to my office in NYC and asked for a ridiculous contribution of $1,000,000. I said no way!”, according to Trump. McIntosh’s telling of the events was remarkably different. According to McIntosh, “"Actually, @realDonaldTrump asked for that mtg & then asked for races he could support. Thought he could buy us off. Worst Kind of Politician.”
It should be noted that the two parties involved here have a long standing enmity. In June of 2015, Club for Growth released a statement that they would not be doing a white paper on Mr. Trump, as, according to writer Doug Sachtleben, “There is no need to do a white paper on Donald Trump. He is not a serious Republican candidate, and many of his positions make him better suited to take on Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. It would also be unfortunate if he takes away a spot at even one Republican debate. “
All of this led MJ Lee of CNN to conclude that Trump’s account was somehow disingenuous. In any series of events, however, it is not uncommon for two or more parties to dispute the events which occurred. Sorting out the reality from the perception of those present is known in legal terms as looking at “stipulations”, or those things with which both parties agree actually happened.
What we do know, according to both parties, is that Club for Growth has said some mean, nasty things about Donald Trump in the past. We know that a meeting took place, which involved a discussion of Trump giving money to Club for Growth, and we know Trump refused. This would more naturally lead one logically to conclude that Club for Growth attempted to shake down Donald Trump for money in exchange for an apparent change of heart from Club for Growth, and that Trump stood down the bullies. This does not make Trump disingenuous, it makes him a stalwart negotiator.
It also makes one question the judgment of MJ Lee of CNN.
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