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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Trump is simply unconcerned about anyone who isn't him"
Usually when someone dies, you follow the rule your mom taught you: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
President Donald Trump doesn't follow that rule. Asked about the passing of legendary journalist Cokie Roberts on Tuesday, here's what Trump said (in part):
"I never met her. She never treated me nicely. But I would like to wish her family well. She was a professional, and I respect professionals."
So, yeah.
The first words out of his mouth when asked about someone's death was a) never met her and b) "she never treated me nicely." Me, Me, Me, Me, Me Me.
While all politicians -- and all people -- tend to see things through a how-does-this-impact-me lens, most of us understand that turning everything, especially someone else's death, into a conversation about ourselves is hugely selfish and narcissistic. It also reeks of a lack of empathy, an inability to step outside yourself and into another person's shoes for even a minute.
That Trump's first instinct when asked about the death of a prominent journalist would be to make it about himself and then use it as a piece of ammo in his long-running fight with the news media is, even for this president, a remarkable thing. And by remarkable, I mean revealing. Revealing in that it makes clear -- and, if you have been paying attention to the presidency it might well already be crystal clear to you -- that Trump is simply unconcerned about anyone who isn't him. He doesn't view the presidency as a position of moral leadership. He just does and says what he wants, when he wants.
That rejection of moral leadership -- of taking the high road, of understanding that you don't need to say everything you think -- is what makes Trump truly radical vis a vis the other men who have held the office of president. They tried -- and sometimes failed, but always tried -- to do what they believed to be the right thing, even if it wasn't what they wanted to do. Trump makes no attempt to do so. None.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/18/politics/donald-trump-cokie-roberts/index.html
rurallib
(62,477 posts)Meadowoak
(5,571 posts)keithbvadu2
(37,011 posts)He loves his daughter, Ivanka.
Well, he wants to.
durablend
(7,467 posts)He has already...
tblue37
(65,524 posts)a liar on the day of her death. "The body is still warm!" he said. His phrasing was unfortunate , but his point is on the mark.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)what Narcissistic Sociopaths do. Even if he wanted to (which is impossible) he would never change his behavior. In short, he simply can not help his behavior. He does not feel anything and he just does not get it!
Demovictory9
(32,489 posts)Wednesdays
(17,462 posts)Whether Trump wins or loses next November, his lack of empathy and presidency devoid of moral leadership will have fundamentally altered the way in which the presidency is conceived in at least some circles in the country. And not in a good way.
Millions of kids, many of whom will become GOP politicians and judges, are now growing up with Trump as their idol. I weep for our future.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)for their kids. Seriously, I did read this ... and do not now have a link. It was likely evangelists, I'm guessing.
CDerekGo
(507 posts)When asked about a woman, ANY woman, his first utterance is "I never met her" No matter the woman, how he supposedly was supposed to have known her. Whether he fondled her P***y, or gave her an Interview. It's like this narcissist has a complete and total disdain for any female not named Ivanka.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)anyone who can lend him money or anyone he can profit from until they are no use to him.