Masha Fante
President Trump gave some of his usual rambling remarks at a tank factory in Lima, Ohio today. While his speech meandered into national security, auto unions, and industrial policy his comments about the late Senator John McCain got the most attention.
Trump continued his bizarre feud with the now-dead John McCain, whining that he never got a “thank you” after approving the Republican senator’s funeral plans:
President Trump on John McCain: "I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted, which as president I had to approve. I don't care about this. I didn’t get thank you. That's ok. We sent him on the way, but I wasn't a fan of John McCain." pic.twitter.com/hG4XwOiIBO
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 20, 2019
Naturally, Trump using the bully pulpit to bash a dead senator didn’t go over well on Twitter:
"I gave him the kind of funeral he wanted...I didn't get a thank you." HOW IS THIS HAPPENING https://t.co/C6vorOZYrX
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) March 20, 2019
Bat Shit Crazy https://t.co/fhIv54QLWd
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) March 20, 2019
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) March 20, 2019
"I, Donald J. Trump, am calling on Senator John McCain to release his long-form death certificate." pic.twitter.com/UBrAC4pPFy
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) March 20, 2019
Listening to Trump continuing to trash John McCain is truly disturbing. The guy was locked up in a cell and beaten within an inch of his life while you were on a yacht nursing your bone spur. What’s the matter with you? He’s dead for Gods sake.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) March 20, 2019
Two great American political parties. One asking the question, "How do we best get to universal health coverage?" The other asking the equally important question, "Should the president insult dead senators months after their deaths because a rerun on SNL reminded him of a feud?"
— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) March 20, 2019
High praise. https://t.co/Br6wpXDHEv
— Jay Welch (@welchjay) March 20, 2019
It didn’t go over well in the room, either:
The hundreds in crowd were silent as Trump began to go after McCain's legacy and suggested McCain family should have thanked him for allowing the senator the funeral he wanted. Trump recaptured some enthusiasm from crowd by praising vets and trashing reporters who cover him.
— Margaret Talev (@margarettalev) March 20, 2019
Meghan McCain has been outspoken in condemning Trump’s attacks on her father, and last night her mother gave people a peek into what it’s like for her family when Trump shoots his mouth off. Cindy McCain shared some of the hateful messages she’d received in the wake of Trump’s attacks on her husband and it’s pretty vile stuff:
I want to make sure all of you could see how kind and loving a stranger can be. I’m posting her note for her family and friends could see. pic.twitter.com/GoNCm0fv4U
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) March 19, 2019
Anytime Trump turns his sights on someone, his loyal army of rabid trolls attack. It’s a disgusting pattern, but it’s one Trump seems to revel in. Perhaps the worst part about it is that it’s completely divorced from him being president—it’s an entire cult of personality.
Trump is gonna be shit talking John McCain and the pee dossier til the day I die and there’s nothing any of us can do about it, and he will be a major force in Republican politics and a kingmaker and a conservative media star long after he’s done presidenting
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) March 20, 2019
Language aside, this last point is one a lot folks don’t seem to realize. Trump has the ability and most importantly desire to stay on stage long after he is out of office. https://t.co/TzEiQXowfV
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 20, 2019
One day Trump will no longer be in the Oval Office, but he’ll still be right there on Twitter. He’ll still have a fawning angry fan base. He’ll still command outsized media attention. It’s a depressing reality.
h/t: CSPAN, Washington Post