Will be super interesting to see him try that under oath...

I like a petulant Trump. Means he's worried.

He can in fact do whatever he wants, he just needs to deal with the consequences of his actions.

If I was a Republican, and I fancied myself a man of wit, accountability, and maturity, I would not be able to reconcile my politics against just how absurdly juvenile, idiotic, and whiny Trump is at all times.

Candidate Trump needs to be belligerent and defiant. Defendant Trump needs to STFU.

The problem is those two things are in competition. So he has to say, Russia, Russia, Russia as candidate Trump, but that isn't a relevant or useful argument for defendant Trump. He has to say, "I'm allowed to do this thing" as candidate Trump, but as defendant Trump, I'm allowed to break the law is not a defense.

His only hope is to delay. If he goes to trial on anything, defendant Trump loses. If he can hold out, then candidate Trump will win.

This is his bet. He wins and it all goes away and the US is ruled by a guy who believes he can get away with anything.

This attitude is terrifying to people who handle national security information. Just because you might have authority to declassify something doesn't mean you should. It's reckless and irresponsible to expose sources and methods unnecessarily - not to mention the information itself. There's a reason that declassified documents still have a lot of redactions.

This type of stuff is usually in a very controlled environment with significant physical security - not a bathroom.

Holy shit I hate this man so much.

No you are not. It is classified for a reason.

American government: ‘No, you’re not.’

You stopped being president nearly four years ago, man. Grow up.

He's right until they prove him wrong.

I will die not understanding the allegiance this man has among his followers.

he's allowed to do whatever he wants with whatever and whoever he wants whenever he wants or why else is he the king

Let the courts sort out his stupidity.

That all sounds to me like he's not trying to defend himself in court, that instead his entire plan is to win the presidency and stay there for life. All of these claims (I can do the thing, it's totally fine believe me) amount to confessions that he did what he's charged with, but are also appeals to his base that the courts are wrong and illegitimate.

….aT which point his lawyer jumped in and said the the real trump would never say that .. fake fake prank call don’t ever call here again!!