Trump Wanted a Radio Show, but He Didn't Want to Compete With Limbaugh

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

On a Saturday in early March, Donald J. Trump, clad in a baseball cap, strode into the Situation Room for a meeting with the coronavirus task force. He didn’t stop by the group’s daily meetings often, but he had an idea he was eager to share: He wanted to start a White House talk radio show.

At the time, the virus was rapidly spreading across the country, and Mr. Trump would soon announce a ban on European travel. A talk radio show, Mr. Trump excitedly explained, would allow him to quell Americans’ fears and answer their questions about the pandemic directly, according to three White House officials who heard the pitch. There would be no screening, he said, just an open line for people to call and engage one-on-one with the president.

But that Saturday, almost as suddenly as he proposed it, the president outlined one reason he would not be moving forward with it: He did not want to compete with Rush Limbaugh.

No one in the room was sure how to respond, two of the officials said. Someone suggested hosting the show in the mornings or on weekends, to steer clear of the conservative radio host’s schedule. But Mr. Trump shook his head, saying he envisioned his show as two hours a day, every day. And were it not for Mr. Limbaugh, and the risk of encroaching on his territory, he reiterated, he would do it.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/us/trump-radio-show-rush-limbaugh.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

[marble falls]

1. Two+ hours away from the Oval Office? Any other President, I'd say nah.

[underpants]

8. He's got nooooothing better to do

and he’s just sure everyone wants to hear from him. He can save the day.

[forgotmylogin]

28. THE PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO+ FREE HOURS PER DAY

FOR A FUCKING RADIO SHOW!

HE WASN'T EVEN DOING HIS JOB UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES!

WHAT THE ABSOLUTE HELL DO WE PAY HIM FOR? (whether he's accepting the salary or not, whatever, he is an appointed federal employee!)

[SharonAnn]

36. He knew he'd lose. Can't stand the thought of losing.

[TygrBright]

2. I NEVER thought I'd be grateful to Rush Limbaugh for ANYTHING.... n/t

[moonscape]

17. I wish he had decided to do it. Then

he wouldn't be clogging network TV with his 2 hours.

[elleng]

3. two hours a day, every day, nothing better to do.

[tinrobot]

4. I suspect there would also have been paid sponsors.

Because he certainly wouldn't do it for free.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. The fuck is a 'radio'?

[Dave Starsky]

35. It's an audio device that racist old codgers listen to...

While they're smoking and thumbing through porno mags in their broken down pickup trucks.

[Newest Reality]

6. No screening?

Really? Did I read that right?

Oh, boy. How many times would he quickly have to hang up when it becomes a complaints department line and cathartic outlet for we, the screwed? I am guessing at least a half to three-quarters of the show.

They would really have to have screening so the most devout followers in his loyal base could slather praise on him and agree with everything he says and does. Otherwise, it could backfire...and...that would be nice.

I bet Rush would be glad to go off the air as a sacrifice to El Presidente's dream show.

[underpants]

11. Aside from the cult and the rest of us

Open to the general public? Boy talk about someone being out of touch.

Half the calls would be from Deez Nuts and Heywood Jablome

[ucrdem]

34. LOL

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. There's no way he'd have the guts to do it with no screening

Look at how unhinged he is when he gets a professional question from a journalist. I suspect he'd already decided he couldn't actually do it when he announced the idea to his cronies, but he wants to think he's still a broadcaster, so he had to let them know about his brilliant idea.

If he hadn't backed out, because of a Dunning-Kruger delusion that he is adequate to face a sample of Americans, one of the toadies would have made sure there was complete screening without him knowing. They'd know his ego would be destroyed in the first few minutes without it, and some of them would get fired because of it. He's convinced himself the media are evil, so he's able to keep his narcissism together when they points out his failures, since they are "fake" to him. He couldn't say that about caller after caller.

[ProfessorGAC]

32. Odds Are 1 In Infinity

When the first anti- call came in, show over! Then the next day there'd be screeners.

[DENVERPOPS]

22. Trump may have his chance sooner than later

Isn't the ol' opiate boy about to check out/??????????????

[sdfernando]

25. Yeah...my 1st thought was

he's lying...of course there would be screening....and even if there wasn't it would last like maybe 1 show and then he would have excessive screening.

...and who would want to call in anyway? They'd be recording you and your phone number. If you asked a difficult question, someone would reach out to you for "re-education".

[Totally Tunsie]

37. Who knows how long Limbaugh will be around anyway?

His days are probably numbered at this point. Chump may get his chance yet, even if for just a little while.

[proud patriot]

7. so instead we are stuck

with the 2 hr a day Trump TV show ..

[iluvtennis]

19. +++ agree. networks realy need to stop broadcasting it. Want them to videotape it and only show

the scientists and doctor portions.

[jmowreader]

9. That "no screening" thing would last about a millisecond

"This is The Trump Show, and we're on the air with John Smith of Tuscaloosa, Alabama."
"RESIGN, you fat-ass piece of shit!"

"I have dispatched a platoon of Homeland Security agents to Mr. Smith's home. We're now on the air with Cindy Lou Who of Pig's Knuckle, California."
'Mr. President, my mommy died of coronavirus. She would be alive today if you hadn't shipped a plane load of broken ventilators to California. Why did you kill my mommy?'

"Cindy Lou Who is about to receive a visit from a platoon of DHS agents. And now we're on the air with Susan Hendricks of Atlanta, Georgia."
'Mr. President, you realize the entire country is tuning in to your little campaign rallies disguised as coronavirus press conferences so they can watch you fuck up next. Why don't you just go back to your golf course and let adults run the country for once?'

"Miss Hendricks, you're a bad reporter and you're embarrassing the country, but not for long. You, John Smith and that rotten little Cindy Lou Who punk, along with anyone who works for any news source but Fox News and One America News Network are all going to Gitmo. And now let's hear from the president of Fox News Network."
'Hey, asshole, we're sick of carrying your water for you. You want to spread lies and look like a dictator? You do it on your own. And just so you know, we're interviewing the head of Department of Homeland Security right now. He says he's not going to let his agency illegally arrest people. So John, Cindy Lou, Susan, and everyone else in the media are safe.'

"I'm the president. If I say it's legal, it's legal. I can do anything I want."
'Uhh...you might want to look out your window. You see those Green Berets who are parachuting onto the White House lawn? They left Fort Bragg to hold a parade for you, but it's not going to be the kind you like.'

[Newest Reality]

14. That was good!

Thanks! Sounds right.

Maybe this radio show idea is Dear Leader floating ideas for his mandatory, state run media and news outlet of the future. All Trump, all day. El Presidente speaks! He wants it.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

30. I LOVE how you think, jmowreader !!

The only change I'd make would be something like this:

Remember how we nabbed bin Laden ? NAVY SEALS !!!!

Run silent into the Rose Garden, pay off all the Secret Service (who will probably be HAPPY to assist), nab his fat ass and "render" him off the flight deck of the Teddy Rose, via catapult . . . by Captain Brett Crozier.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. I think this is a wonderful idea.

There would be no screening, he said, just an open line for people to call and engage one-on-one with the president.

[underpants]

13. Sure. Just like the members at Mar a lago

They’ll all be subservient to him. Of course they will.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

15. When i grow up ...

I wanna be a TV star and the president and an astronaut and a truck driver and a radio host!

What is the mental age requirement for the office? I am not sure he qualifies.

Is it time for his nap yet?

[ProfessorGAC]

33. Beauty!!! (nt)

[PatrickforO]

16. OK...wow.

Gosh, yeah, wouldn't want to compete with Limbaugh!

In the words of Tom Arnold in True Lies:

The guy's a goddamn used car salesman! This just keeps getting better and better!

[turbinetree]

18. Funded by the taxpayers............not fucking happening.............

then bring back the Fairness Doctrine...........he already has press briefings of him whining...................

[Liberty Belle]

20. That will probably be his post-presidency gig.

Either that, or an analyst on Faux News.

[DENVERPOPS]

23. I suspect

if we were ever to be so lucky to overturn his Republicon cabal, he would be in the news every single weekday, appearing before the Hague for crimes against Humanity. And, as long as we are at it, we could arrest "W", Cheney and Rumsfeld and have them accompany Lardass & Mitchie......

My friends in Europe have told me that there are a number of European Nations that Cheney/Rumsfeld cannot even visit, for fear of being arrested as they get off the plane and taken straight to the Hague for
prosecution for War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity.......

[Liberty Belle]

31. I hope you are right.

[Blue Owl]

21. KWTF and/or WWTF

n/t

[aggiesal]

24. I would have done everything I could ...

to tie up the lines with liberal views.

No screening? He is an IDIOT.
He believes that only his sheeple will call.

[Grins]

26. That screaming you hear - his campaign peeps. NM

[Yavin4]

27. "No one in the room was sure how to respond". Oh, really?! Here's the response.

Push the damn button!!

?rlvnet=1&view_padding=%5B285%2C0%2C285%2C0%5D

[the_sly_pig]

29. Ratings

Would have sh** ratings because he’s a boring traitor idiot.