Washington Post: “When 2018 began, the president had made 1,989 false and misleading claims, according to The Fact Checker’s database, which tracks every suspect statement uttered by the president. By the end of the year, Trump had accumulated more than 7,600 untruths during his presidency — averaging more than 15 erroneous claims a day during 2018, almost triple the rate from the year before.”

“Even as Trump’s fact-free statements proliferate, there is growing evidence that his approach is failing.”

“Fewer than 3 in 10 Americans believe many of his most-common false statements, according to a Fact Checker poll conducted this month. Only among a pool of strong Trump approvers — about 1 in 6 adults in the survey — did large majorities accept several, though not all, of his falsehoods as true.”

“Sources told Page Six that Cohen was spotted at a recent power breakfast meeting with ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Inglourious Basterds’ producer Lawrence Bender.”

Said Cohen’s attorney David Schwartz: lThere is a lot of interest in Michael’s story, but he isn’t open to doing anything at the moment because of continuing investigations.”

Retired four-star Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal criticized President Trump’s behavior and handling of the presidency, ABC News reports.

Said McChrystal: “I don’t think he tells the truth.”

When asked if Trump immoral, McChrystal said: “I think he is.”

He added: “If we want to be governed by someone we wouldn’t do a business deal with because their — their background is so shady, if we’re willing to do that, then that’s in conflict with who I think we are. And so I think it’s necessary at those times to take a stand.”

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly defended his tenure in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Most interesting: “Kelly said he made sure that Trump had access to multiple streams of detailed information before he made a decision — even if the president says he often relies on his gut, rather than U.S. intelligence.”

Said Kelly: “It’s never been: The president just wants to make a decision based on no knowledge and ignorance. You may not like his decision, but at least he was fully informed on the impact.”

“Kelly admitted that spending nearly every waking minute of 15-hour days with a president seemingly inundated with one crisis after another has been a ‘bone-crushing hard job, but you do it.'”

The Guardian: “Kelly’s interview contained a number of statements likely to irk Trump.”

New York Times: “After nearly two years of assessing the accuracy of Mr. Trump’s statements, we can draw some conclusions not just about the scale of the president’s mendacity, but also about how he uses inaccurate claims to advance his agenda, criticize the news media and celebrate his achievements.”

The HuffPost looks back at six times President Trump “hit a new low” in 2018.

“For Trump’s fiercest critics, it is impossible for Trump to get any worse. But, somehow, he always does.”

“Mar-a-Lago this year hiked ticket prices for its annual New Year’s Eve bash, with guests paying $1,000 per person for the chance to party with the President Trump at his private Palm Beach club,” the Palm Beach Post reports.

But Trump canceled plans to attend the event.

“It’s unclear whether Mar-a-Lago will let people wiggle out of their tickets at this late date. But evidently, some club members and guests have no interest in paying extra-high ticket prices if the president will not be in attendance.”