"The president was not in business with his son."

Compare the following two statements from the White House:
   1. "The president has never spoken to [his] son about his overseas business dealings,” versus...

   2. “The president was not in business with his son.”

Democrat: "Yeah, the words are different but they mean the same thing."

Different Democrat: "Those statements were made by different people at different times, so you can't logically compare the two."

Clearly the two statements don't mean the same thing.  And people who pay attention noticed--and predicted the next steps:

Next it will be “Okay, the president knew about Hunty's business dealings, but he didn't have any equity interest and didn't participate.”

Then “Okay, the president may have been involved in one or two of Hunty's businesses...but not *that* one.  Or that other one either.”

Then, “Okay, he had a minor interest in some of Hunty's business deals with a foreign investor or two.  But Trump is way worse because, reasons…”

And finally "Yes, I was a partner in Hunter's businesses, but my advisors suggested we keep my name off the documents to avoid claims by right-wing conspiracy nuts that potential investors and partners only gave us money because I was a partner in his businesses."