"TODAY" anchor Matt Lauer had a hard time believing his guest Kellyanne Conway's take on the national security adviser's resignation during their Tuesday morning interview.
Michael Flynn resigned after reports revealed he had spoken with the Kremlin about easing sanctions without the Trump administration's knowledge. But, his speaking with the Russians was not the deciding factor, Conway said – it was his misleading Vice President Mike Pence.
When he found out Flynn had misled the administration, Trump “decided the situation had become unsustainable” and accepted Flynn’s resignation, according to Conway.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reiterated this conclusion at Tuesday's press briefing. Flynn's resignation, he insisted several times, was the result of trust issues.
Lauer, however, saw holes in the story.
“That makes no sense,” he told Conway.
How, Lauer wondered, could Flynn still be in the president’s trust when the Justice Department informed the White House a few weeks ago that he had lied about his conversations with Russia and was vulnerable to blackmail?
“That makes no sense.” @MLauer to @KellyannePolls while discussing Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn pic.twitter.com/94SaFlQJxo
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 14, 2017
Conway responded that Lauer's summary is just one "characterization" and noted that Trump “wishes him well.”
The three candidates in the running to replace Flynn include acting national security adviser Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Vice Adm. Robert Harward, and Gen. David Petraeus.