During a salacious hot mic incident Tuesday, Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Jack Reed said he believes President Donald Trump is “crazy.”
Reed and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine candidly discussed the administration’s approach to the budget about 36 minutes into an audio-only recording of a markup of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2018
“I swear, the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] just went through and whenever there was ‘grant,’ the just X it out,” Collins said of OMB director Mick Mulvaney’s approach to the president’s budget.
“Yes. I think — I think he’s crazy,” Reed said, apparently referring to Trump. “I mean, I don’t say that lightly and as a kind of a goofy guy.”
“I’m worried,” Collins replied.
“Oof,” Reed said. “You know, this thing — if we don’t get a budget deal, we’re going to be paralyzed.” (RELATED: The Federal Gov Is Facing This Serious Fiscal Crisis)
“I know,” Collins said.
The two continued to discuss the mixed signals from the administration on the budget process, and worried that the House will have a difficult .
“You’ve got [Budget Director Mick] Mulvaney saying we’re going to put in all sorts of stuff like a border wall. Then you’ve got [Treasury Secretary Steve] Mnuchin saying it’s got to be clean,” Reed said. “We’re going to be back in September, and, you know, you’re going to have crazy people in the House.”
The conversation then pivots to discussing House members, and Collins asks if Reed saw “one who challenged me to a duel,” apparently referencing Texas Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold. (RELATED: HOT MIC: Senator Says Collins ‘Could Beat The Sh**’ Out Of GOP Rep
Farenthold told the Associated Press Monday that if Collins were a man, they might settle their differences on the Obamacare repeal bill with a duel, “Aaron Burr-style.”
“If it was a guy from south Texas, I might ask him to step outside and settle this Aaron Burr-style,” Farenthold told the Associated Press Monday.
“I know,” Reed said in the recorded audio. “You know why he challenged you to a duel? ‘Cause you could beat the shit out of him,” Reed said.
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