We Need a New Word for the Trump White House

Membership Ticker

You come to Mother Jones for unique journalism, and we love doing it for you—especially at a moment like this. That's really it. That's the upshot of our fall fundraising drive, and we're hoping to raise $250,000 in a much shorter than normal three-week window, by November 5, so we can keep right on doing it. Please pitch in early to help us get there.

$250,000

You come to Mother Jones for unique journalism, and we love doing it for you. That's it. That's the upshot of our fall fundraising drive, and we're hoping to raise $250,000 in a shorter than normal three-week window so we can keep right on doing it.

Earlier today, Donald Trump blasted the way the civilian justice system treats terror suspects: “What we have right now is a joke and it’s a laughingstock.”

Three hours later, a reporter asked press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about this. Her answer: “That’s not what he said. He said the process has people calling us a joke and calling us a laughingstock.”

Trump’s comments were broadcast on national TV. They’re on tape. They’re on YouTube. But only a few hours later, the White House blandly denied he ever said it. Is there even a word for this?