Last week saw several new revelations about President Trump. He allegedly called fallen US soldiers buried in a cemetery in France “losers.” He did not want wounded veterans to march in a military parade. He aggressively discouraged his own son from joining the Army. He could not understand why one General, whom he perceived as smart, joined the military.
Are these vicious lies, spawned by never-Trumpers or, worse, Haters? This week’s examples all come from one article by Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic, a publication not known for sloppy journalism despite its consistent criticism of the Trump presidency. Trump’s reaction? “What animal would say such a thing?”
The President, and many of his supporters, including several regular Spy readers, seem to condemn any negative reporting of Trump as “fake news” and suggests that those reporting or repeating the stories have been out to get Trump “since before he was president.”
Is Trump right? Is he the victim of people who are still angry that Hillary lost (at least in the Electoral College), who are socialists, or those who simply hate America?
An objective look at even a handful of the allegations made about Trump suggests that almost all the most damning allegations are not “fake.” They are, with some exceptions, relevant to our responsibility as citizens to monitor the President’s execution of his office, his health, and his integrity.
Last week Stephanie Winston Wolkoff released Melania and Me. She substantiates allegations of grifting by Trump and his family in holding the 2017 Inauguration. Ms. Wolkoff has stated that she has proof of the allegations she makes. Should this book be dismissed as “lies” because it also discusses the First Lady’s character and attitudes towards some of the President’s older children? Prosecutors don’t seem to think so.
Remember “Mad Dog” Mattis? The former Secretary of Defense wrote:
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.”
In response, Trump called Mattis “the world’s most overrated General” and suggested his “primary strength” was “personal public relations.”
Additional reports include those of former National Security Advisor John Bolton in The Room Where it Happened. Bolton writes that “obstruction of justice was a way of life” and that Trump actively solicited Chinese intervention in the upcoming Presidential election. Trump responded by claiming he fired Bolton and that, “Everyone in the White House hated him.” He also called Bolton a “washed-up guy.” Bolton, best known as a national security hardliner and President Bush’s Ambassador to the United Nations, always has been considered a conservative Republican.
This list could go on. Consider Mary Trump’s book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.” She reports that Trump paid someone to take the SATs for him. She also describes him as a sociopath.
Consider reports that Trump declines to read national security briefings. Should we care? Are those who report this news disloyal? Or is this information relevant to citizens evaluating how Trump is performing as President.
Finally, remember that a picture is worth a thousand words and that (at least before Photoshop) pictures don’t lie. Remember the picture of Trump in front of St. John’s holding a bible, upside down, in a photo opportunity made possible by the forcible removal of peaceful protesters? Were the news outlets that published or broadcast that image “haters?” Is what the President did irrelevant to whether he should be re-elected?
In the case of almost every negative story, picture, or report about the President, he is not a victim. Especially not a victim like the New York Times reporter with a disability that he chose to publicly ridicule. Not a victim like the children separated from their parents at the borders. Not a victim like Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.
J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. For more than 30 years, he advised clients on federal education and social service policy.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Our nation and our democracy are the victims. A minority of Americans, rich and poor, feel they need an authoritarian President. Daddy problems? Who knows. Vote BLUE.
Bill Anderson says
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old Virginia farmer, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man. Eventually the topic got around to Biden and his possible role as our president.
The old farmer said, ‘Well, ya know,
Biden is a ‘Post Turtle”. Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him, what a ‘post turtle’ was.
The old rancher said, ‘When you’re driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a ‘post turtle’.
The old farmer saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain.
“You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, he doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there, he’s elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there to begin with.”
Vote TRUMP!!
Chris Whitney says
Bill, you are most certainly entitled to your opinion and preference for a candidate. Thank goodness we still live in a country where that is allowed and encouraged. But the article above is regarding Donald Trump. Disparaging or otherwise criticizing his competitor does nothing whatsoever to counter what Mr. Dean has presented above. If you have evidence that anything in the article is not true, please publish it.
Sue Ann Zimmerman says
Same is even more true about this completely unaccountable failed “businessman,” and emotionally and socially retarded “human being.” Our ignorant, arrogant Racist-in-Chief is unfit for ANY job. Remove the Fascist, before it’s too late. Vote Blue.
steve park says
Nice try J.E., we are all very familiar now with your positions vis a vis this president. You again attempt to make a fair argument using only one sided left talking points mixed with other never Trumper quotes. I am for less government, and while I have my own questions regarding this President’s style, your points regarding divisiveness is merely the result of two opposite approaches to defining the best path forward for our country. I am disappointed that you take such a one sided view on these matters. Have you been to DC lately? The growth is out of control! All the result of more government not less. Lets have a conversation about it all instead of yet another one sided approach to the discussion. To the authors of this site; I ask, when will we have an open conversation? or are you all only interested in a one sided view?
Deirdre LaMotte says
So, the out of control deficit under this administration qualifies as “less government”? This is one reason
why traditional Republicans have abandoned their Party. The other reason…we’ll it’s obvious.