White House in stormy withdrawal from world climate pact

Blaster of ‘Paris’

The only surprise to arise from President Donald Trump’s awaited move to shun the Paris climate agreement is that it first generated this much internal suspense and drama.

Well into Wednesday, administration officials were insisting the plan to pull the U.S. out of the 195-nation pact to fight global warming was “not finalized.”

During the campaign, Trump clearly said he would carry out a withdrawal, which, of course, is still expected.

But the White House was still generating stories about how Ivanka Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson favored remaining in the deal, while EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and strategist Steve Bannon pushed against it.

Trump once called the phenomenon, as perceived by most scientists, a Chinese-made hoax, then gave conflicting signals in Europe. Spokesman Sean Spicer couldn’t even seem to answer whether Trump thinks human activity contributes to climate change. “Honestly, I haven’t asked him that,” Spicer said.

Shaky shake-up

If the president is going to purge top staff, he may need others to replace them. And that is reported to be a challenge.

Four possible successors to White House Communications Director Michael Dubke, who’s leaving after only three months, declined to be considered, The New York Times reports.

Questions also surround the future role of Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, according to NBC.

Show intel

The House Intelligence Committee issued seven subpoenas on Wednesday. Four are related to alleged Russian meddling in last year’s election and three to the “unmasking” of Trump associates during the transition, it was announced.

Also, FBI Director James Comey plans to testify in the Senate as early as next week on the internal tensions that preceded his ouster by Trump.

CNN reported that Comey has spoken privately with Special Counsel Robert Mueller on the parameters of what he says, given the ongoing FBI probe.

Gross gaffe

Comedian Kathy Griffin’s hoisting of a bloody, severed “Trump head” in a tweeted photo went over as you might expect. She later apologized. The president understandably tweeted that it was “sick” and said she should be ashamed of herself. CNN terminated her contract to appear on its New Year’s Eve program.

The flap sparked instant comparisons on social media to decency-challenged entertainer Ted Nugent, who in January 2016 called for President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to be “tried for treason and hung,” and urged that president to “suck on my machine gun.” In April, Nugent was a Trump dinner guest at the White House.

The ‘covfefe’ chronicles

Shortly after midnight, Trump tweeted “Despite the constant negative press covfefe” — and that was the end of the message. Internetwide ridicule followed.

Apparently, the 45th president meant to complain about coverage. Spicer got some of the laughs directed his way when he refused to concede to reporters that this was just a late-night mistake.

“The president and a small group of people know exactly what he meant,” Spicer said cryptically.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton joked that it was a “secret message to the Russians.” Trump scowled back on Twitter that “Crooked Hillary” blames “everybody but herself” for losing to him.

What else is happening

• Trump is moving to return compounds seized from the Russians in the final days of the Obama administration, including one in Upper Brookville, The Washington Post reports.
• Former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn’s firm was producing a documentary with a Turkish businessman for $530,000, which was meant to polish the national government’s image after a coup attempt, The Wall Street Journal reports (pay site).
• Former Trump adviser Carter Page should testify in the Russia probe to counter what those in the CIA and FBI might say, the president tweeted. Page’s role has been mysterious.
• Nearly half of Trump’s Twitter “followers” appear to be fake accounts and bots, according to Newsweek.
• Democrats urged first daughter Ivanka to cut ties to a Chinese factory under investigation for human rights abuses.
• Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he’ll quit his role on two Trump advisory councils if and when the U.S. leaves the Paris climate agreement.

By Dan Janison

dan.janison@newsday.comDanJanison

Dan Janison is a member of the Newsday editorial board.