MSNBC "Hardball with Chris Matthews" - Transcript: Trump: "Department of Justice reverses course."

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

MATTHEWS: On Twitter this morning, the President boasted the event is looking to be really big. It will be a show of a lifetime, he said. But The Washington Post reports the National Park Service is diverting nearly $2.5 million in interests and recreation fees primarily intended to improve parks across the country to cover costs for this exhibit, the spectacle. It adds, well, the diverted park fees represent just a fraction of the extra costs the government faces as a result of this event. President Trump, by the way, downplayed concerns about the cost on Twitter, writing, quote, the cost of our great salute to America tomorrow will be very little compared to what it is worth. We own the planes. We have the pilots. The airport is right next door, Andrews, all we need is the fuel. We own the tanks and all fireworks are donated by two of the greats. Nice. Nice. I`m joined now by Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Mr. Jeffries, thank you for joining us, congressman. And I leave the door open to you, your thoughts about the aesthetics of it, the politics of it, the narcissism.

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Well, thanks for having me on, Chris. Donald Trump is going to turn a national celebration on the National Mall into a national embarrassment to feed his out of control ego. This is another example of his narcissism. Sometimes it`s malignant. Sometimes it`s out of control. At this particular point in time, it really is an embarrassment and it will be a waste of taxpayer dollars to use the military as a political prop for his own purposes. And it`s really another sad moment during the Trump presidency.

MATTHEWS: Is there any way of stopping him from using the pictures tomorrow, which are basically the production is paid for by the American taxpayer, especially the people that go -- the older people, the senior citizens who go to these national parks and pay the $10 or whatever it is you have to pay. My question is, suppose he turns this into a big extravaganza for his ad campaign for next year, is that legal?

JEFFRIES: Well, certainly, I think it should be looked at, though the President, of course„ as you know, Chris, is granted wide latitude and discretion in terms of the non-governmental and the governmental activity. We`ve also seen many in his administration, of course, abuse those privileges and violate the Hatch Act in ways that they don`t seem to care. I think, ultimately, this is all going to come down to condemnation from the American people, and a recognition that the 4th of July is a national celebration not of democrats, independents or republicans, but as Americans. And everything that Donald Trump touches becomes divisive. And that`s why his breaking from past practice is really unfortunate in this particular instance.

MATTHEWS: What do you think about him standing where Dr. King stood?

JEFFRIES: Well, it`s a direct contrast to the things that Dr. King stood for, that Abraham Lincoln stood for. You know, those are figures who wanted to bring the country together. Donald Trump is tearing us apart. Those were individuals who wanted to move the country forward. Donald Trump clearly wants to turn back the clock in ways that will be unfortunate for the great gorgeous mosaic that are the American people. I think if Donald Trump spent a little bit more time actually focused on trying to work with House Democrats to get things done for the American people, because, Chris, after all, that`s our job, and we want to fix our crumbling infrastructure. We need a partner in order to do so. We want to lower the high costs of life-saving prescription drugs. We need a partner to do so. Instead, Donald Trump has been fantasizing about this grandiose display on the National Mall, and also spending his time sort of interacting with dictators all across the country in ways that are also entirely inappropriate for a country that is a leader of the free world.

MATTHEWS: Well, great countries, great leaders have found ways to solve problems. We had a great poverty problem in this country, and Social Security went a long way towards dealing with it, especially for older people, and then Medicare came along. And, of course, we`ve had successful decisions about immigration before that may not have been enforced but there were attempts. Do you think the President wants solutions or he wants issues, that he loves the issues he fights over?

JEFFRIES: Well, I think you hit on something right there. Instead of actually solving big problems on behalf of the American people, he clearly is intent on continuing to motivate his very narrow base as a pathway toward another so-called Electoral College presidential victor instead of trying to bring people together, reaching across to the other side of the aisle and solving the challenges that the American people confront. If we were able to do that, then I think that would put the American people in a better possible place. One of the reasons why people are so cynical about the political process right now is because it seems like some in Washington, D.C. are only concerned with the political permanent campaign as opposed to the space to govern. We as House democrats, Nancy Pelosi has indicated time and again, we want to govern, but we need a partner.

MATTHEWS: Thank you so much U.S. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, happy 4th of July, sir.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source