In a wide-ranging press conference Monday, one of the claims made by President Donald Trump involved the Thursday and Friday testimony of his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh testified under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of his SCOTUS confirmation hearing.
Trump stated Kavanaugh admitted to a serious drinking problem when he was underage and drinking illegally in high school and college.
Watch the President's statement here.
President Trump on watching Judge Kavanaugh testify: “I watched a man saying that he did have difficulty as a you… https://t.co/DNhIqdRl2C— NBC News (@NBC News) 1538413309.0
Trump characterizing Kavanaugh’s Senate testimony: “He did have difficulty as a young man w/drink(ing)”— John Harwood (@John Harwood) 1538411337.0
However those who watched Kavanaugh's testimony refuted the President's claim.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall Kavanaugh saying he had "difficulty" with drinking. He tried to convey… https://t.co/df0cp9zMTL— Maggie Haberman (@Maggie Haberman) 1538411650.0
@maggieNYT you are correct. Trump said it. Kavanaugh didn’t. signal, you think?— John Harwood (@John Harwood) 1538411727.0
@NBCNews Well then I don’t know what hearing @realDonaldTrump watched because in Brett Kavanaugh’s hearing he ABSOL… https://t.co/FCQaMO7nq5— The Dose of Reality (@The Dose of Reality) 1538413719.0
@JohnJHarwood Not his testimony under oath.— Beel (@Beel) 1538412642.0
@JohnJHarwood Did Trump miss how Kavanaugh went after Senator Klobuchar when she tried to ask about his drinking?— Blue (@Blue) 1538412462.0
@JohnJHarwood The opposite — as #Kavanaugh clearly stated that he had NO difficulty drinking at ANY age. However h… https://t.co/tVLHAFarF1— Á̵̢̙͉̫ 𝐫 𝐝 𝐢 𝐧 ≤≥ 🌐 (@Á̵̢̙͉̫ 𝐫 𝐝 𝐢 𝐧 ≤≥ 🌐) 1538414502.0
People speculated as to why Trump would expose his own nominee to ridicule for lying under oath about his drinking problems while still under the legal age to drink.
@aa_tweeter @JohnJHarwood Right! So is trump trying to give himself an out when report comes back or is he just the… https://t.co/HM3rofMAVN— OhhDindi🍑 (@OhhDindi🍑) 1538415763.0
@JohnJHarwood In fact, Kavanaugh lied and said just the opposite— Leonce Gaiter (@Leonce Gaiter) 1538412570.0
@JohnJHarwood Trump knows more than we do. Kavanaugh was a binge drinker. A consequence of Binge drinking is blackouts.— Kim Budanit (@Kim Budanit) 1538416530.0
@JohnJHarwood @cooperchip1 So, even Trump knows Kavanaugh lied under oath. #KavaNOPE— Victoria Yo Quid Pro Quo (@Victoria Yo Quid Pro Quo) 1538414166.0
@JohnJHarwood Oh, so he just admitted what Kavanaugh denied under oath?— Leigh Crosby (@Leigh Crosby) 1538413042.0
@JohnJHarwood I’ve been saying this, that they should have never tried to argue his innocence but own up to the acc… https://t.co/QD8JO2OyFR— Sel (@Sel) 1538413494.0
@SelHudson @JohnJHarwood Exactly. But he followed the “gop double down deny everything” philosophy.— ladydi80 (@ladydi80) 1538417006.0
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall Kavanaugh saying he had "difficulty" with drinking. He tried to convey… https://t.co/df0cp9zMTL— Maggie Haberman (@Maggie Haberman) 1538411650.0
@JohnJHarwood that is literally not at all the message that Kav was putting out there. Didn't suggest he had a pro… https://t.co/CbvDG4NUPi— 🍂 Cran-Jamie 🍁 (@🍂 Cran-Jamie 🍁) 1538411989.0
@jrtoastyman @JohnJHarwood Right! He just likes beer, dammit!— OhhDindi🍑 (@OhhDindi🍑) 1538415573.0
@DindiOhh @jrtoastyman @JohnJHarwood He certainly showed us he has anger problems. 😏— StillHopeful (@StillHopeful) 1538416913.0
@JohnJHarwood 😂 you're in trouble if even Trump isn't buying your bullshit— Corn Pop (@Corn Pop) 1538411812.0
Many wondered if the admission that Kavanaugh had a drinking problem in high school and college was an attempt by Trump to rid himself of his embattled SCOTUS nominee.
Exposing Kavanaugh lying to the Senate Judiciary Committee could give the President a reason to revoke his nomination.
@NBCNews interesting!! i just saw the trump interview and heard him say Kavanaugh had drinking problem at high scho… https://t.co/IsKRUdqQmI— Janine Bliss (@Janine Bliss) 1538413911.0
@NBCNews @potus Dr. Ford's allegations that much more plausible! Entirely poss that, just as she said, BKav was so… https://t.co/AgYc2SJFwn— Ex-GOP MaryM500 (@Ex-GOP MaryM500) 1538416457.0
@MelissaMermaid @NBCNews Kavanaugh said when asked how much is too much drinking? whatever the charts say is howeve… https://t.co/7cVoIigwFU— Debra Jean Kennedy (@Debra Jean Kennedy) 1538414377.0
@JoseyRider @NBCNews Yeah, today he's Chief Exacerbator.— 🌽🌰🍂🍂🥧🥂 (@🌽🌰🍂🍂🥧🥂) 1538416316.0
@JohnJHarwood He also had difficulty as a young man with sexual assault.— JustLetMeFinish (@JustLetMeFinish) 1538413344.0
@ArrestALSNow @JohnJHarwood He responded to Senator Klobuchar “neither do I” when she said I don’t have a drinking problem.— Simone forever (@Simone forever) 1538413864.0
@simone124578 @ArrestALSNow @JohnJHarwood That right there could be the lie that sinks him.— 🇺🇸Sue B. 🌊 (@🇺🇸Sue B. 🌊) 1538416794.0
@JohnJHarwood If he hasn’t showed rehabilitation & compliance w/Dr’s orders (which is abstinence.) Mr. I Still Lik… https://t.co/MyVexq2lRJ— Stephanie (@Stephanie) 1538412487.0
As of Monday afternoon, Brett Kavanaugh has not withdrawn as a SCOTUS nominee nor has President Trump revoked the nomination.