Feinstein's Words on Trump 'Shock' San Francisco Crowd

If he 'can learn and change,' he 'can be a good president'
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 30, 2017 5:28 PM CDT
Feinstein's Words on Trump 'Shock' San Francisco Crowd
United States Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., gestures while speaking at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017.   (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

"I believe he can be a good president." Those were the words from Sen. Dianne Feinstein that, per the San Francisco Chronicle, "shocked" her audience Tuesday night during an appearance in the city. Specifically, Feinstein said she thinks President Trump can be a good president if "he can learn and change." She also refused to say he should be impeached, and told the audience they'd likely be dealing with him as POTUS for the full four-year term. The Chronicle sums up the crowd's reaction thusly: "The crowd reacted with stunned silence, broken only with scattered 'No’s' and a few hisses and some nervous laughter." Responding to questions about why the Democrats aren't on the attack more, she said, "I have to work with people and a punch in the nose is not going to do it."

But, as Fox News notes, after Feinstein's words made headlines and resulted in backlash, she issued a statement clarifying them: "I’ve been strongly critical of President Trump when I disagree on policy and with his behavior," she said, adding that she was "appalled" by his response to the Charlottesville violence and his pardon of Joe Arpaio. "The duty of the American president is to bring people together, not cater to one segment of a political base; to solve problems, not campaign constantly," she continued. "While I’m under no illusion that it’s likely to happen and will continue to oppose his policies, I want President Trump to change for the good of the country." (More Dianne Feinstein stories.)

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