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.
Willard T Engelskirchen says
Yet a couple of more books come to mind today: Michael Cohen’s book, “Disloyal”, is a tell all which I suspect will be substantiated. Bob Woodward’s book, “Rage”, comes from a reporter with impeccable credentials and recordings of the conversations he had with the president. In them it is revealed that the president knew Covid19 was very deadly and also spread thru the air when he was telling the American people otherwise.
Peter Strock’s book is also in the mix.
There can be an error or two in any of these. However, the preponderance of evidence is there. Our president is a con man and a liar willing to do anything to hold onto power.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Willard,Think you meant to say Nanny Pelosi and Chuck Shumah? Am I right? Sure, throw in Hillary and the Clinton crime family.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Wow. The absolute biggest compromised President is in the Oval Office and you are still fixated on
the Clintons? Really? Do you still use a
Dial phone and call your freezer an icebox?
This is like an episode of the Twilight Zone
…all these poor duped people fixated on Fox News
in front of a black & white TV.
I am sorry, but there are those who are
absolutely on another planet, while intentionally, the Murdocks are laughing to the bank.
Unbelievable…except it isn’t.
Can we please reintroduce civics into our nation’s obvious failing schools please??!!
Ellen K. Smith says
In the three and one-half years since Donald Trump was elected president I have not seen one positive article about him in the media. All economic indicators have been positive but the news seems to report only that they may go down. Although Mrs. Trump is incredibly beautiful, I have not seen one magazine cover with her photo on it. It just doesn’t make sense that the coverage of this administration is so different from the coverage of past administrations. When equal coverage returns, I will start taking it seriously.
Charles Barranco says
Todd,
Excellent Article!
John Dean says
I’m not sure who Todd is, but if this is a comment on my piece, thank you. Positive comments are always welcome.
Angela Rieck says
I agree that Trump has been subjected to more negative press than any president in recent memory. But it doesn’t make the reports inaccurate. Even Trump’s preferred news station (Fox News) is beginning to report on the President’s lack of Presidential behavior (the most kind phrase that I could use). Woodward’s damning book will have accompanying audio recordings of President Trump’s statements. Proof that these are his words…including his decision to “play down” the COVID 19 virus; is accurate. Everyone, of course, has the right to vote for whom he or she chooses. But as Daniel Patrick Moynihan said “You are entitled to your own opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”
John Dean says
Thanks for reading and commenting on this piece. I’m looking forward to reading “Rage.”
Bob Parker says
Great piece, objective and accurate. For those who point to trump’s economic policies as a “success”, I would point out that for the 1st 12-18 months of is administration the economic growth followed the path of the last 1-2 yrs of the prior (Obama) administration and then fell off thereafter before the Covid pandemic. I would also point out that the Stock Market is NOT the economy but rather a reflection of stock prices and not necessarily true value. Remember, that 80%+ of Americans do not profit from the market and that 80% of the value of the market is largely held by less than the top 10% (defined by wealth) of Americans. Add to this a dramatic increase in the National Debt and in the trade deficit with China – all before the Covid pandemic. So, if you remove “the economy” as a reason to support trump, what do you have? Racism, promotion of division and fear, failure to deal with the current pandemic and incessant lying to the American public…you choose.
John Dean says
Thank you, both for reading the piece and for adding to the discussion. You make good points.
Emil Nitrate says
About Donald Trump: if his lips are moving, he is lying. Theproblem with his election slogan is one of typography; they misspelled “Make America Grate again”. He has.
John Dean says
Good points.