×

Off the Record: Our tone-deaf president

Off the Record

Time and again, when you listen to President Donald Trump speak you have to wonder about his ability to hear what he is actually saying and how it is being perceived.

If he honestly paid attention to himself, would he really have said, about Sen. John McCain, “He’s not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”

Would he really have said, about rival candidate Carly Fiorina, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? The face of our next president?”

Would he have said, talking about his foreign policy and military expertise, “I know more about ISIS than the generals do. Believe me.”

Would he really have said, about reports of Russian hacking Hillary Clinton campaign emails, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”

I could go on and on. The point is, Trump doesn’t seem to know what kind of impact his statements make when he makes them, especially as president. He seems to think everything he says is pure gold.

So last Saturday, when he commented on the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, he must have been surprised when everyone except the white supremacists, neo-Nazis and KKK took offense at his comments about violence and hatred “on many sides.” On Monday, after two days of criticism, he read a scripted statement naming the KKK and white supremacists and denouncing them. He read it with all the enthusiasm of a six-year-old boy, his mother hanging onto his ear, being forced to apologize to his sister for calling her names. On Tuesday, with his ear released, Trump again blamed “both sides” for the troubles.

I don’t know why, at this point, we expect presidential comments from Trump. He’s just not capable of speaking eloquently and profoundly about anything.

Part of his problem, I think, is that for so long he has been surrounded by toadies, sycophants and yes-men who know their continued employment depends on agreeing with and applauding whatever The Donald says. He has never had anyone say to him, “What did you just say? I can’t believe you said that! How can you possibly think that?”

Perhaps we should just turn to someone else in government for comments that express our country’s emotions and feelings in future times of trouble and distress. The president just isn’t up to the job.

——

Kevin Sweeney has been the managing editor of The Journal since May 1985. A native of St. Paul, he worked at newspapers in LeSueur and Albert Lea before moving to New Ulm. Contact him at ksweeney@nujournal.com.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today