These Trump Administration Officials Deny Writing the Anonymous New York Times Op-Ed
Several members of President Donald Trump’s administration have denied writing an anonymous New York Times op-ed that criticizes Trump, as people speculate over who could be behind the article.
Vice President Mike Pence issued a denial Thursday, after online sleuths connected him frequently saying the word “lodestar” to its use in the op-ed to refer to John McCain. A spokesperson for the Pence’s office issued a statement denying he was behind the op-ed on Twitter.
The Vice President puts his name on his Op-Eds. The @nytimes should be ashamed and so should the person who wrote the false, illogical, and gutless op-ed. Our office is above such amateur acts.
— Jarrod Agen (@VPComDir) September 6, 2018
Others quickly followed suit to distance themselves from the Times op-ed, which claims there is an effort by a group of conservative administration insiders who are working against Trump. In a tweet Wednesday evening, Trump called for the Times to reveal the anonymous writer behind the op-ed, calling the person who wrote it “GUTLESS.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he did not write the op-ed while speaking with reporters in New Delhi Thursday. “It’s not mine,” he said.
Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence, also said he did not write the op-ed in a statement.
“Speculation that The New York Times op-ed was written by me or my Principal Deputy is patently false,” he said. “We did not. From the beginning of our tenure, we have insisted that the entire IC remain focused on our mission to provide the President and policymakers with the best intelligence possible.”
First Lady Melania Trump also weighed in to address the writer of the op-ed through her spokesperson.
“Unidentified sources have become the majority of the voices people hear about in today’s news,” Trump said in a statement. “People with no names are writing our nation’s history.”
“To the writer of the oped - you are not protecting this country, you are sabotaging it with your cowardly actions.” — @FLOTUS pic.twitter.com/geJBekPUfz
— Stephanie Grisham (@StephGrisham45) September 6, 2018
Swift denials followed from others in the Trump administration. Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross said he “did not write and am thoroughly appalled by this op-ed.”
I did not write and am thoroughly appalled by this op-ed. I couldn’t be prouder of our work at Commerce and of @POTUS. https://t.co/dBlLIGK6g1
— Sec. Wilbur Ross (@SecretaryRoss) September 6, 2018
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry also said he was not behind the piece.
I am not the author of the New York Times OpEd, nor do I agree with its characterizations. Hiding behind anonymity and smearing the President of the United States does not make you an "unsung hero", it makes you a coward, unworthy of serving this Nation.
— Rick Perry (@SecretaryPerry) September 6, 2018
U.S. Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin denied authoring the op-ed through a spokesperson.
.@stevenmnuchin1 is honored to serve @POTUS & the American people. He feels it was irresponsible for @nytimes to print this anonymous piece. Now, dignified public servants are forced to deny being the source. It is laughable to think this could come from the Secretary.
— Tony Sayegh Jr. (@tony4ny) September 6, 2018
Secretary of Education Betsy Devos issued a statement denying she wrote the op-ed.
.@BetsyDeVosED is not a Washington insider and does not play Washington insider games. She has the courage of her convictions and signs her opinions. She is not the author of the anonymous @nytimes op-ed
— ED Press Secretary (@EDPressSec) September 6, 2018
Linda McMahon, administrator of the Trump Administration’s Small Business Council. also denied writing the op-ed.
I am not author of the anonymous @nytimes op-ed. @realDonaldTrump has a clear governing vision for the country and his record of results is remarkable. I am proud to serve as a member of President Trump’s @Cabinet to advocate on behalf of America’s 30 million small businesses.
— Linda McMahon (@SBALinda) September 6, 2018
Ambassador to Russia Jon Hunstman released a statement denying writing the op-ed through his spokesperson, Andrea Kalan.
Amb Huntsman: Come to find, when you’re serving as the U.S. envoy in Moscow, you’re an easy target on all sides. Anything sent out by me would have carried my name. An early political lesson I learned: never send an anonymous op-ed. https://t.co/OXMBIUGVhi
— Andrea Kalan (@USEmbRuPress) September 6, 2018
White House counsel Don McGahn, who is leaving his position after the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, told reporters “no” when asked if he had penned the op-ed.