[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 148 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CONCERN OVER LEADERSHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Espaillat) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concerns 
over the leadership coming from our Nation's White House.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote the words of a White House staff 
member that was recently published by The New York Times in an op-ed:

       The dilemma--which the President does not fully grasp--is 
     that many of the senior officials in his own administration 
     are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his 
     agenda and his worst inclinations.

  This comes directly from a staffer at the Trump White House.
  It is scary to think that the policies that have come out of the 
White House already publicly aren't even the President's worst 
inclinations.
  It is scary to think that separating children from their mothers, as 
young as 9 months old, is not the President's worst inclination.
  It is scary to think that the rhetoric being launched at immigrants, 
hateful rhetoric launched against immigrants from all parts of the 
world--this is a nation of immigrants--that that is not part of the 
President's worst inclination.
  It is scary to think that arming teachers not with a book, not with a 
laptop, but with weapons is not the President's worst inclination.
  There is a quiet resistance within the administration of people 
choosing to put country first. That is what the staff member said in 
that op-ed. People before party. Country before party.
  That is what the staff member has said in this op-ed, and I stand 
here today to say to my Republican colleagues: Where are you? Will you 
put country before party?
  Where is your courage to do what is right? Will you put country 
before party?
  Where is your courage to hold the President accountable, to exercise 
the checks and balances that are given to us by the Constitution?
  Trump's circle of chaos runs deep within the administration. To my 
colleagues: Where are you?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.

                          ____________________