Consider the source
What the people that know Trump best have to say about him…
Over the 4th of July weekend Donald Trump made two speeches warning Americans about their true enemy…other Americans.
And those divisive speeches reminded me of a quote from James Mattis, former Marine General and Secretary of Defense:
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.”
If you’re thinking I’ve used part of that quote before, I did; right after Trump had peaceful demonstrators assaulted so he could leave the White House, stroll across the street, stand in front of a church and hold up a Bible for a photo op.
After that photo op a couple other retired generals – James Allen and Colin Powell – also criticized Trump and I thought it was worth a cartoon which you see at the top of this post. Trump likes to attack the patriotism of his critics and it seemed significant that this time the criticism came from three guys whose patriotism was beyond question.
And that started me thinking about criticism in general and the importance of taking into account the credentials of the people doing the criticizing.
Trump likes to claim that he surrounds himself with the best people, so let’s go with that. After they work with him, what do those top-notch people have to say about Donald Trump?
A few quotes to remember
“A fucking moron.” – Former Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson
“The President has very little understanding of what it means to be in the military, to fight ethically or to be governed by a uniform set of rules and practices.” – Former Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer
“Like an 11-year-old child.” – Former White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon
“Morally unfit to be president.” – Former Director of the FBI James Comey
“Less a person than a collection of terrible traits.” – Former chief economic advisor Gary Cohn
“There is a concern, I think an awful big concern, that the partisanship has gotten out of hand, the tribal thing has gotten out of hand.” – Former White House chief of staff John Kelly
“I don’t think he’s really competent to be president…Putin thinks he can play him like a fiddle.” – Former National Security Advisor Bolton
After a number of White House insiders said Trump didn’t do his homework and was poorly prepared to deal with other world leaders, I drew the following cartoon:
They’re playing poker while Trump plays Go Fish.
Let’s wind this up with a quote that seems timely after Trump’s 4th of July weekend tantrum.
“For the last 3 years I have fully supported this President. Recently he has said things that divide the country in a way that is unacceptable. So I didn’t pass the 100% litmus test. Eventually he turns on everyone and soon it will be you and then the entire country.” – Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci
A plethora of disgruntled former employees
When someone who used to work with Donald Trump admits he’s just as big an idiot as the rest of us thought, Trump tends to call them disgruntled former employees. And Trump’s got a point: an extraordinary number of his former employees seem to be disgruntled.
I’m not a big fan of some of the people quoted, but remember; these were people chosen to work with Trump, but when they got a close-up look at the President, didn’t like what they saw.
Trump and his supporters can go on trying to blame his political opponents for Trump’s lousy reputation, but the worst stuff we know about Donald Trump comes from former supporters and the people who know him best.
Consider the source.