“Lawmakers in both major parties and former intelligence officials appeared shocked.” – The Associated Press
“U.S. lawmakers of both political parties reacted with shock.” – Voice of America
“Some of Mr. Trump’s own advisers privately said they were shocked.” – The New York Times
‘Shocked”? Really?
After almost two years of unending chaos, the only shocking thing about Donald Trump’s disastrous Helsinki news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin is that some people were apparently shocked. That suggests they expected better, which in turn suggests they still don’t understand what we’re dealing with.
They don’t get that there’s no pivot coming, no magic moment when Trump becomes thoughtful, intelligent, presidential. He will not grow into the job, or change, or improve. What you see is what you get. What you see is what there is.
That should be obvious by now to anyone with eyes. And if it was disappointing to hear that some observers were “shocked,” it was downright gag-inducing to see certain members of his party line up to condemn him and the Trump whisperers at Fox blanch and gulp at his behavior. As if they had not long enabled, rationalized and defended with specious reasoning and strategic outrage this amateur-hour presidency.
They – along with 63 million voters – sold America out on a promise of white primacy restored and tax cuts for billionaires. That was made glaringly clear – again – on an international stage this week as Trump abased himself, and by extension, us, cozying up to an autocratic thug whose regime has strangled democracy, stolen land and murdered dissenters. Faced with such unalloyed evil, Trump did everything except roll over to have his tummy scratched.
Strained relations? He said “both countries” were to blame. Russian misbehavior? He failed to name any.
Asked about the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, he touted Putin’s “extremely strong and powerful” denial.
Asked directly if he believes Putin over his own intelligence chiefs, he declared his “confidence in both parties,” an act of moral spinelessness reminiscent of last year, when he equated neo-Nazis with those who protested against them. Like a squid squirting ink to cover its escape, he ducked the issue of Russian meddling by renewing his obsession with Hillary Clinton’s email servers (“Where are they?“) and Robert Mueller’s investigation (“witch hunt“).
His nation under attack and the head of the attacking regime standing next to him, Trump was everything he professes to despise. Weak. Feeble. Impotent.
The man who thought Colin Kaepernick unpatriotic for kneeling could not bring himself to stand up for his country.
The man who insults, berates and belittles our allies could not bring himself to rebuke one of our greatest adversaries.
The man who sees threats in the eyes of Honduran children could see no threat in a murderous tyrant with nuclear arms.
It was appalling, yes. But it was also predictable. And that’s an important point, because if we are to survive this existential emergency, it starts with being clear-eyed about the clear and present danger we face. This is not a good man, not a patriotic man, not a moral, a smart or a brave man. All of us should know that by now.
So yes, let us be angry, be determined, be resilient, but let us not be shocked by Trump. That’s a waste of time. November is coming.
Let him be shocked by us.
Leonard Pitts Jr., winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, is a columnist for The Miami Herald. He can be contacted at:
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