President Trump will probably go down in history as one of the most outspoken world leaders ever.
That being said, his outspokenness is not absolute or consistent.
Topics such as North Korea lead the president to furiously spit words like “fire and fury like the world has never seen”, and daughter’s clothing line being dropped from a department store upset him so greatly that he tweets:
https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/829356871848951809?lang=en
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But Trump can’t always be depended on for being bold and blunt, especially when it doesn’t suit him.
This weekend the president attracted criticism after condemning the far-right, white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia as “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides”.
He then went on a complete tangent.
The president discussed how “our country is doing so well in so many ways”.
He appeared to draw equivalency between fascists and those protesting against them. He then began talking about trade deals and employment ratings.
He was eventually able to describe the events in Charlottesville as “sad”.
We have so many incredible things happening in our country, so when I watch Charlottesville, to me it’s very, very sad.
His response to the events was so weak-willed that one self-described neo-Nazi publication, the Daily Stormer, was pleased he didn’t condemn fascists at all:
In case you're wondering if President Trump inspires neo-nazis–this is from their publication The Daily Stormer: pic.twitter.com/cT4OZv7VMP
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) August 12, 2017
In all his communications about the situation in Charlottesville so far, Trump has never used the words “neo-Nazi”, “fascist”, “racist” or any terms that unequivocally condemn the far right for their part in it.
The president’s refusal to refer to the event as domestic terrorism has led to criticism from both Democrats and prominent Republicans:
Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 12, 2017
No, Mr. President. This is a provocative effort by Neo-Nazis to foment racism and hatred and create violence. Call it out for what it is. https://t.co/WibPqkLsLa
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 12, 2017
Our hearts are with today's victims. White supremacy is a scourge. This hate and its terrorism must be confronted and defeated.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 12, 2017
1:2 There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 13, 2017
But the incitement of hatred that got us here is as real and condemnable as the white supremacists in our streets.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 12, 2017
The hate and bigotry witnessed in #Charlottesville does not reflect American values. I wholeheartedly oppose their actions.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) August 12, 2017
"White supremacy" crap is worst kind of racism-it's EVIL and perversion of God's truth to ever think our Creator values some above others.
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) August 12, 2017
Of course we condemn ALL that hate stands for. Until @POTUS specifically condemns alt-right action in Charlottesville, he hasnt done his job
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 12, 2017
We should call evil by its name. My brother didn't give his life fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged here at home. -OGH
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) August 12, 2017
Mr. President – we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism. https://t.co/PaPNiPPAoW
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) August 12, 2017
The criticism of Trump has reached such a fever pitch that the White House has been forced to respond with a statement claiming that Trump meant to condemn the far-right, despite not actually mentioning them:
The president said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred. Of course that includes white supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups.
The note at the end of the statement referencing ‘all extremist groups’ is a noteworthy deflection. It goes without saying that all extremism should be condemned but Charlottesville represents a specific brand of extremism that should be focused upon.
It’s almost as though, in a conversation about oranges and nothing but oranges, Trump had decided to mention watermelons.
Of course, Trump’s tepid condemnations and generally slow response shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
The president has been infamously silent or slow to respond to other events that have taken place on his watch. Islamophobic and anti-Semitic hate crimes have been ignored, Gay Pride Month didn’t warrant a single tweet, and even former FBI director James Comey’s testimony didn’t prompt a response from the president.
On the other hand, Trump has been active on Twitter regarding the following issues
The New York Times
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/894659355324424192
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/889273320574783489
The candidate who he beat in the election months before
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/885128373441355777
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/884378624660582405
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/875438639823675392
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/870077441401905152
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/848857910297980928
The president who preceded him (notably no longer in office)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/879317636164841474
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/837996746236182529
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/837989835818287106
Arnold Schwarzenegger
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/838016045222854656
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/827477947154063361
His daughter, Ivanka
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/874218586155479040
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/830552079240409089
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/829356871848951809
The so-called fake news mainstream media (condescended for time)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/883230130885324802
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/869874798087819264
A terminally-ill baby whose condition had made international headlines
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/881875263700783104
A newsreader who’d been less-than-flattering in her descriptions of him
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/880410114456465411
His own Twitter account
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/872059997429022722
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/892383242535481344
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/823151124815507460
Attacking the mayors of cities in foreign countries and mourning the loss of all lives (not just American ones)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/871331574649901056
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/871328428963901440
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/844930836663357440
His official accommodation
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/860987464114110465
His favourite TV programme
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/860088511202029569
Sporting events
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/885865609971605508
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/828447350200926212
His close pal, Sean Spicer
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/888575966259314691
People he has named “ungrateful traitors”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/824573698774601729
Expert political insight
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/856146924705120256
Totally missing the point of Earth day
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/855901315305795584
Mysterious announcements
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/826588658304217088
Snoop Dogg
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/841967881516679168
Protests against him
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/823150055418920960
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/834181712783560705
Covfefe (note that the original tweet was deleted)
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/869858333477523458
Will the far right be the next on Trump’s list of things to condemn?
We wouldn’t count on it…
