Trump explains why he ‘fired’ Flynn

President Trump insisted again Saturday that his 2016 election campaign didn’t collude with Russia, and that he fired former national security adviser Michael Flynn because he lied to Vice President Pence.

“I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI,” Trump tweeted just after noon. “He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/937007006526959618

​Flynn wasn’t fired, but resigned in February after it became clear he had illicit communications with Russia’s US ambassador and misled Pence and other White House officials about them.

Flynn pleaded guilty Friday to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the ambassador. As part of his guilty plea, Flynn agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between Trump’s team and Russia.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump insisted there was “absolutely no collusion” between his 2016 campaign and Russia.

“What has been shown is no collusion, no collusion,” Trump told reporters outside of the White House before departing to New York City to attend three fundraisers.

“We’ll see what happens,” Trump added to shouted questions about Flynn’s guilty plea.

“There’s been absolutely no collusion, so we’re very happy,” Trump continued.

At a protest Saturday morning across from Cipriani on East 42nd Street in Manhattan — where Trump appeared at a breakfast fundraiser — one sign with a picture of the president read “Putin’s Puppet.” Some protesters also chanted, “New York hates you,” and “Lock him up.”

The protesters were focused on the $1.2 trillion tax reform passed by the Senate early Saturday.

But a few alluded to Flynn’s agreement to cooperate with the Mueller investigation as part of his guilty plea.

“Flynn should spill his guts. He shouldn’t take no bullet for no one,” said Gerard Despinosse, a 65-year-old union organizer from the Bronx who held a sign declaring “Lock Him Up” with a picture of Trump and​ ​handcuffs. “Trump has no loyalty to anyone but to himself.”