This morning’s trainwreck
by digby
His conference call this morning with members of the military was one for the books.
Talking to Captain of USS Ronald Reagan Trump Trashes Catapult Tech on new Ford Class Carriers. Captain Gently Says He Thinks New Tech is Better. pic.twitter.com/BTK7qmAgJV— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) November 22, 2018
Coast Guard commander in Arabian Gulf does his best to respond to Trump complaining about unfair trade deals. pic.twitter.com/ssMfJE4SrL— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) November 22, 2018
Trump to troops deployed abroad during a conference call this morning: “We’re all doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. We’re the hot nation in the world. It’s nice to know you’re fighting that’s doing well and that’s our country.” #wut pic.twitter.com/jsMlVtof3Z— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Trump tells troops: “You see on the news what’s happening on our border. Large numbers of ppl & in many cases we have no idea who they are. In many cases they’re not good ppl. They’re bad…we’re not letting in anybody, essentially.”He then blasts judges for ruling against him. pic.twitter.com/SmjPmhf4lf
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Trump, like a lunatic, asks troops in Bahrain to weigh in on his trade war since “we have been taken advantage of for many years by bad deals.”One of them responds to him by saying, “from our perspective there is an abundance of trade happening in the region.” pic.twitter.com/122RUSp2EG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Commander in Chief Trump is surprised to learn a colonel he’s talking to in Afghanistan commands 10k people.“Wow! That’s a lot of people. That’s fantastic. That’s beautiful. And you’re enjoying what you’re doing, is that right?”
She says she does, but misses her family. pic.twitter.com/JagimYCvFG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
After the teleconference ends, a reporter asks Trump, “when are you going to Afghanistan or the Middle East?”“We’re going to do some interesting things. At the appropriate time, we’ll be doing some interesting things,” Trump says. pic.twitter.com/tTFTDeg6zQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Asked about what CIA knows about Khashoggi’s murder, Trump says “I don’t want to talk about it. You’ll have to ask them.”He’s then asked about the border. Trump lays into the 9th circuit for holding up his asylum policy and claims John Roberts lacks “common sense.” pic.twitter.com/QbAKvMGJcM
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Trump falsely claims there’s “a vast amount of fighting going on at the border” but adds that it’s “all taking place in Mexico.”“Under the Democrats, they don’t have a merit system. They want open borders,” he adds, ignoring that his party controls Congress. pic.twitter.com/VIdQjmaYho
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Trump says he’s not worried his decision to not do anything about Saudi Arabia’s murder of US resident sends message to other world leaders they can do whatever they want b/c Saudi is “investing hundreds of billions in our country” & “keeping oil prices low.”Completely amoral. pic.twitter.com/4AyUF3sJLj
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Trump gaslights about Khashoggi’s murder, claims CIA has “feelings certain ways” but didn’t conclude the Saudi crown prince was responsible.CIA officials in fact told the New York Times that the agency concluded the crown prince was responsible. pic.twitter.com/VLzJJ3ZOy7
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
TRUMP on KHASHOGGI: “I hate the cover-up. And I will tell you this. The crown prince hates it more than I do. And they have vehemently denied it. The CIA points it both ways. Maybe he did [order K’s killing], maybe not. I will say very strongly that it’s a very important ally.” pic.twitter.com/uThyigVa3y— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
REPORTER: Who should be held accountable for Khashoggi?TRUMP: “Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a vicious place. The world is a very vicious place. You look at what’s happening in China. Look at what’s happening in so many different countries.” pic.twitter.com/2k02qka4Es
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
REPORTER: What’s your response to people who say a phone call wasn’t enough for the troops today?TRUMP: “Well, nobody has done more for the military than I have. I took the budget from very little to $700 billion, $716 billion… I’ve also done more for the Vets than anybody.” pic.twitter.com/fcFUQDUbjf
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
TRUMP says he’s approved military using deadly force against people traveling with caravan: “If they have to, they’re gonna use lethal force. I’ve given the OK… you’re dealing with rough people.” pic.twitter.com/tgZTO7RUf4— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
After Trump breaks significant news by claiming he signed an order to “shut down the border” two days ago, a reporter asks him if the public can see a copy of it.Trump immediately backtracks, saying, “ah, you don’t need it. It’s not that big of a deal.” pic.twitter.com/s6CB7HMTZa
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Trump claims he doesn’t have to prepare for an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping because “my gut is always right.”Trump then blatantly lies, claims GDP was “minus 4, minus 5, minus 6%” before he took office. (It was in fact 1.9% positive in 4th quarter 2016.) pic.twitter.com/4dVvHlz1F4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
REPORTER: Have you talked to Ivanka about her emails?TRUMP: “I have, actually. And very innocent. A short period of time. Very early on. There was no deletion of emails like the 33,000 plus probably another 100,000 that Hillary Clinton did… that’s another fake news story.” pic.twitter.com/BBdeybAS6Y
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
Trump closes the press conference by telling reporters that what he’s most thankful for this Thanksgiving is himself“For having made a tremendous difference in this country. I’ve made a tremendous difference. This country is so much stronger now than it was when I took office.” pic.twitter.com/QnydF2urdr
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2018
It was one of his worst.
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