Donald Trump has his bouncer toss Univision anchor Jorge Ramos from his press conference. “Go back to Univision!” Watch here.
TPM Reader JB has his own take here ….
If you go to Univision.com right now, the video is on the front page top. Not top of the news section; top center of the whole website (at least on a phone). There is a headline like “Trump Kicks Jorge Ramos Out of Press Conference” and then the money quote: “Go Back to Univision”.
The video has no set up or commentary from a Univision reporter or news anchor. None is required. This is one powerfully self-explanatory clip. It is hard to imagine the message being any clearer to the millions of Univision viewers, spat straight from the sneering, hateful mouth of a big, blonde-haired and red-faced White Man:
You are not welcome in Trump’s America. Go the fuck back where you came from. Let’s be serious, I don’t care if you are legal or illegal. Hell, I don’t care if you are one of the most prominent, respected and powerful members of the Mexican-American community. You are still just a Mexican, so shut up and get the fuck out. What did you say, boy? You think you have the right to be heard? You think you have the right to speak to me without being spoken to? Well, guess what, you have no rights. You don’t even have the right to be here. Guards!! Seize, silence and deport this Mexican imposter immediately! …
I admit as a political and news junkie who takes pleasure in the misfortunes of the GOP, the Trump phenom was entertaining, at least at first, but it’s getting more ugly and disgusting and scary by the minute. The fun is over.
Unfortunately, Trump is not. I have to believe the Ramos exchange is going to open the gates for more media coverage of denunciations and counter punches from those, like Ramos, who the mainstream media deem coverage-worthy spokespersons for the communities Trump is attacking and vilifying. As we know, if this happens Trump’s instinctual response will be to double-down, escalate and attack (although, let’s face it, he blinked letting Ramos back in the room and engaging him).
If this “conversation” (aka shouting match) does play out on Fox and CNN and Sunday shows (who will score the first Ramos – Trump rematch?), it will doubtless be ugly, at least based on what comes out of Trump’s mouth, but it could be interesting and perhaps not all bad if dissenting voices and a few facts actually start getting some air time.
If the GOP thought they had lost control of the process and the narrative up to now in the Trumpcycle, I have a feeling it will pale in comparison to Stage Two, when it’s “Trump v. Ramos, LIVE on FOX!” Up to now, Trump had been masterfully controlling the narrative and the media. Thanks to Mr. Ramos, I think in this next stage he is going to lose control, too, and we are heading into uncharted waters. Ok, ok, maybe the fun isn’t entirely over.
In the interests of completeness, we should note that Ramos didn’t wait to be called on. That wouldn’t go over well in a lot of politician press conference situations. But the totality of the encounter takes us well past that, in the context of Trump’s courting of the white nationalist vote and insistent Mexican-bashing. It’s not clear to me that Trump loses control of the conversation as JP suspects. I think this is the kind of visual that actually resonates for Trump voters while also encouraging violence like we saw in Boston.
