After he was criticized for failing to correct a town hall audience member who said that President Obama is a Muslim and not an American, Donald Trump on Saturday morning defended himself, arguing that it was not necessary to address statements made about the President.
Am I morally obligated to defend the president every time somebody says something bad or controversial about him? I don’t think so!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
This is the first time in my life that I have caused controversy by NOT saying something.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
If someone made a nasty or controversial statement about me to the president, do you really think he would come to my rescue? No chance!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
If I would have challenged the man, the media would have accused me of interfering with that man’s right of free speech. A no win situation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
During a town hall in New Hampshire on Thursday night, a member of the audience asked a question about “training camps” for Muslims, adding that Obama isn’t an American and is a Muslim himself.
Trump nodded along during the question, and then he replied, “We’re going to be looking at that and plenty of other things.”
Shortly after the town hall, Trump released a statement to the Washington Post defending his actions.
“The media wants to make this issue about Obama. The bigger issue is that Obama is waging war against Christians in this country. Their religious liberty is at stake,” Trump said in the statement.
Following the town hall, both Democrats and Republicans criticized Trump for not sticking up for the President. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Trump’s fellow presidential candidate, suggested that Trump’s past statements questioning whether Obama was born in the U.S. influenced those who still believe Obama is not an American.
“Mr. Trump in many ways is responsible for this, by creating this idea that maybe Obama was born in Kenya, not Hawaii,” Graham said on Friday. “Saying that most illegal immigrants are rapists and drug dealers. He’s playing into this hateful narrative. It’s now time for him to set it right.”
Most of Trump’s supporters – most of the very large base of the GOP – agrees with the man. Why on earth would Trump not avail himself of an opportunity to silently affirm that belief?
(Also: Is it logical to use “moral” and “Trump” in the same sentence without prefixing the former with a very big “im”?)
This is NOT news! We already knew that Donald and most of his supporters were immoral!!
If someone made a nasty or controversial statement about me to the president, do you really think he would come to my rescue? No chance! - D. Trump
Watch “no f#cks left to give” Obama do just that! Just for kicks.
“If I would have challenged the man, the media would have accused me of interfering with that man’s right of free speech. A no win situation!” D- Trump
Well, have to admit he probably has a point there, but it would just be Fox & Friends and the rabid right doing that and not all media as shown by media talking about this the last few days in pretty much agreement that he should have pulled a John McCain on the guy in question.
From a media handling perspective, this is not good.
He skipped the Heritage forum last night, largely to avoid having to actually talk to the media about this situation, and instead retreats back behind his one way twitter feed.
That’s not going to fly as an approach going forward. He will eventually have to face the press, and they will be even more dogged about this situation precisely because he is hiding now. Throwing chum into the water to get the shark’s attention is fine and dandy when you just want their attention. Its not such a wise strategy when you have to actually climb into the water with them.
Trump is a giant pussy