Trump Wishes His Fellow Alleged Abuser Rob Porter All the Best

On Friday, during an impromptu appearance before the White House press corps, President Donald Trump gave his first public remarks on the resignation of his former Staff Secretary Rob Porter, who has been accused of multiple instances of domestic violence.

Here’s what the president had to say about a man who allegedly subjected both of his ex-wives to repeated physical and emotional abuse:

We wish him well. He worked very hard. I found out about it recently and I was surprised by it. But we certainly wish him well. It’s a, obviously, tough time for him. He did a very good job when he was in the White House, and we hope he has a wonderful career—hopefully he will have a great career ahead of him.

It was very sad when we heard about it. Certainly he’s also very sad. Now he also —as you probably know—he says he’s innocent. I think you have to remember that. He said very strongly yesterday that he’s innocent. So you’ll have to talk to him about that. But we absolutely wish him well. He did a very good job when he was at the White House.

Conspicuously not mentioned in the president’s remarks are Porter’s two former spouses—the actual victims here.

So let’s recap this love-fest over an alleged wife-beater, shall we?

• Wish him well
• Did good work
• He’s very sad!
• He said he’s innocent!
• Wish him well (reprise)

Meanwhile, Trump’s chief of staff and strongest Porter backer, General John Kelly, has reportedly opted to just lie about the whole thing.