(CNN) President Donald Trump sought to explain his presence in an underground White House bunker during clashes outside the residence on Friday as an "inspection," rather than a retreat for his own safety, telling a radio interviewer Wednesday he was only in the safe room for a "tiny" amount of time.
"They said it would be a good time to go down and take a look because maybe sometime you're going to need it," Trump said, casting the episode as an appraisal of his security logistics rather than an emergency.
Multiple people familiar with the matter described a different scenario to CNN. They said Trump was rushed to the bunker for nearly an hour amid intense protests on Friday evening. A law enforcement source and another source familiar with the matter tell CNN that first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, were also taken to the bunker.
The second source told CNN that "if the condition at the White House is elevated to RED and the President is moved" to the Emergency Operations Center "Melania Trump, Barron Trump and any other first family members would be moved as well."
Trump, who was enraged when reports emerged he was rushed to the secure location, told Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio that in fact he went during the day and not when protests were raging outside his front door.
FunnyID on June 3rd, 2020 at 15:12 UTC »
Reporter: "Mr. President, then why did Melania and Barron go in the bunker with you?"
Trump: "What a nasty question. OBAMAGATE."
OnDrugsTonight on June 3rd, 2020 at 14:30 UTC »
Why is it so hard to say: "I went to the bunker on the advice of the Secret Service. This is in line with their standard operating procedure on potential perimeter breaches and I fully trust their professional assessment. You shouldn't read too much into it." Boom, done. Instead he comes up with one pathetic lie after another.
Badgermanfearless on June 3rd, 2020 at 14:21 UTC »
Does he honestly expect anyone to believe that?