'It’s still early': CNN's Tapper pours cold water on effusive praise of Trump's 'message discipline'

CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday brought effusive praise of Donald Trump’s “message discipline” during former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony down a few notches, noting “it’s still early” for the president to go on an infamous Twitter tangents.

Tapper was speaking with CNN's White House correspondent Jim Acosta about the expectations surrounding Trump’s response to Thursday’s Congressional hearing. There was speculation, for example, that the president would live tweet the entire event—which may have placed him in a precarious legal position.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) offered tepid praise of the president at a press conference during Thursday Congressional hearing.

“He’s learning as he goes,” Ryan promised reporters.

Discussing with with Tapper, Acosta noted “President Trump demonstrated some un-Trump-like message discipline today staying away from his Twitter account during the Comey testimony.”

Still, the president’s message wasn’t entirely obscured.

“While the president was not tweeting, his son, Donald Trump Jr., was,” Acosta noted. “Trump Jr. was pushing back on the notion that Comey felt any kind of directive from the president to shut down the Russia investigation, tweeting that when his father issues an order you’ll know.”

“But Jake, I don’t remember the last time the president showed this kind of message discipline,” Acosta continued. “We just haven’t seen it in many, many months.”

“It’s still early,” Tapper quipped.

Watch the video below, via CNN:

Acosta marvels at Trump's ability to stay away...by sarahburris