MSNBC’s Peter Alexander: ‘It’s Clear’ the W.H. ‘Was Caught Off-Guard’ By the Op-Ed

EXCERPT:

ALEXANDER: “Willie, it’s clear that the White House was caught off-guard by this op-ed. Literally the moment it came out, it was flagged to me. I printed a copy of it and immediately ran up inside the West Wing and I went to Bill Shine, the top communications official of the President’s office, and I handed him a copy of it and asked him if he had any response to this new anonymous op-ed. I asked him if he had seen it, he said no, and asked if he could read it for himself. So literally it appeared that was the first time that the White House was aware of it, was after it came out. They were already reeling from a series of other headlines, most notably the new details coming out of Bob Woodward’s books, some reporting from 'The Washington Post' that they may be looking for replacement for Jim Mattis, and then this that landed with a thud inside the West Wing. Based on our conversation with multiple aides and allies of the President, his reaction was, in their words, an eruption. They said he was, quote, volcanic."