In the wake of the capture of Cesar Sayoc Jr., the so-called “MAGA Bomber” who sent 12 pipe bombs through the mail to a list of people that Donald Trump has publicly sparred with or attacked outright, and in light of his call for unity while speaking to a conservative group on Friday, many expected that Trump might take this opportunity to bring the tenor of the national discussion down a couple of notches.
Many were dead wrong.
Not only did Trump almost immediately crack a joke about George Soros after his unity soundbite, joining his supporters in mocking the first recipient of the pipe bombs, he also refused to even tone down his own level of discourse.
Asked by a reporter on the White House lawn, “Would you yourself pledge to tone down the rhetoric,” Trump shocked everyone present with what he said:
Well, I think I’ve been toned down, if you want to know the truth. I could really tone it up, because as you know, the media’s been extremely unfair to me and to the Republican Party.”
Another reporter interjected, “How has it been unfair?”
I think the media’s been very, very unfair in terms of the Republican Party and the way it’s been covered. And they understand that. They write articles about that. Many of them admit that. But the media has been unbelievably unfair to Republicans, conservatives, and certainly to me.
But with all of that being said, we’re winning, so I like that.”
And just like that, he “thanked” the assembled press and turned to go. He never did quite answer how they’d been unfair to him or to Republicans, and he refused to even admit that he’s been inflammatory. Honestly, to hear the President try to say that anyone’s “admitted” that the media is unfair to him when he can’t even admit what the problem is feels more than a little bit like high-level gaslighting.
Trump is a bully, and even when he’s called out, he doubles down. This is a man who needs a check on his power.
Featured image via screen capture
