White House aide: Trump has full confidence in Pruitt
White House legislative director Marc Short said on Sunday that President Trump has full confidence in embattled Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt.
“Scott Pruitt is doing a phenomenal job and the president is happy with him,” Short told NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.”
Short refused to say what it would take for Trump to lose full confidence in Pruitt.
{mosads}Pruitt has weathered a series of controversies involving spending over the past month, which has raised ethics questions.
The administrator is facing pressure from some to resign over reports he rented a Capitol Hill condo from the wife of a prominent energy lobbyist for $50 a day and only on the days he stayed at the condo.
He has also faced backlash for his travel and security habits that have cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and reports that he reportedly approved raises for two staffers despite the White House rejecting the requests for pay increases.
Trump has defended Pruitt, citing his work cutting environmental regulations.
While Security spending was somewhat more than his predecessor, Scott Pruitt has received death threats because of his bold actions at EPA. Record clean Air & Water while saving USA Billions of Dollars. Rent was about market rate, travel expenses OK. Scott is doing a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2018
However, reports surfaced last week that Trump told Pruitt to “cool it” on attracting negative media attention during a recent White House Cabinet meeting.
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