The way President Trump tells it, the meandering, falsehood-filled, self-involved speech that he gave at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters was one of the greatest addresses ever given.
“That speech was a home run,” Trump told ABC News just a few minutes into his first major television interview since moving into the White House. “See what Fox said. They said it was one of the great speeches. They showed the people applauding and screaming. … I got a standing ovation. In fact, they said it was the biggest standing ovation since Peyton Manning had won the Super Bowl, and they said it was equal. I got a standing ovation. It lasted for a long period of time.”
The most powerful man in the world continued: “You probably ran it live. I know when I do good speeches. I know when I do bad speeches. That speech was a total home run. They loved it. … People loved it. They loved it. They gave me a standing ovation for a long period of time. They never even sat down, most of them, during the speech. There was love in the room. You and other networks covered it very inaccurately. … That speech was a good speech. And you and a couple of other networks tried to downplay that speech. And it was very, very unfortunate that you did.”
Trump brushed off the suggestion that it was disrespectful to deliver Saturday’s speech — which included musings about magazine covers and crowd sizes — in front of a hallowed memorial to CIA agents killed in the line of duty. He insisted that the crowd was filled with “the people of the CIA,” not his supporters, and could have been several times larger than it was. Had a poll been taken of the 350-person audience to gauge the speech’s greatness, Trump said the result would have been “350 to nothing” in his favor.
The lengthy interview, which aired late Wednesday night, provided a glimpse of the president and his state-of-mind on his fifth full day in office. It revealed a man who is obsessed with his own popularity and eager to provide evidence of his likability, even if that information doesn’t match reality.
The bragging continued…
Trump plugged an “extraordinary poll” that he said found that people “loved and liked” his inaugural address. He again claimed to have “the biggest crowd in the history of inaugural speeches” and accused the media of demeaning his supporters by underreporting turnout. Trump also took credit for the Dow Jones industrial average closing above 20,000 for the first time on Wednesday, referred to a former rival as “one of the combatants that I fought to get here” and said that a recent visitor told him that their meeting “was the single greatest meeting I’ve ever had with anybody.”
Does his tone sound menacing to anyone else but me? Shudder. His combative demeanor needs to change. Sadly, his need for adoration and constant reassurance reflect badly on our nation. I feel like each day is an exercise in watching our latest psychological disturbance.
When are the leaders in the Senate going to go to him and simply say, “knock it off.” They really do own the power now. It needs to happen sooner rather than later. I might not like Mike Pence’s political policies but he isn’t dangerous.
Read the entire article;
In his first major TV interview as president, Trump is endlessly obsessed with his popularity
It’s guaranteed to keep you awake at night, quivering in fear.
Feel the buyer’s remorse set in!
Ha! No kidding. I didn’t try to buy it in the first place so I just feel like Hell. If possible, I am more horrified by the president named Trump than I was the candidate named Trump.
It is incredible that an adult – in years anyway – can
come out with such out and out lies. Where are the
kids when he needs them? Wouldn’t dear daughter
Ivanka be able to tell him what everybody (almost)
thinks of his braggadocio?
One would think. Maybe none of them recognize or understand lying. It’s a real problem. He has no credibility.
“I got a standing ovation. In fact, they said it was the biggest standing ovation since Peyton Manning had won the Super Bowl, and they said it was equal.”
Who is they “they” in that sentence? Voices in his head? And what’s with Peyton Manning? I wanted to be Roger Staubach when I was a kid but outgrew it.
Am a strong advocate for psychological examination of presidential candidates that would be made public if significant issues are found. No question tha Trumpmis an egotistical serial liar. And suspect that may be true of his adult children. His skin is as thin as the membrane inside an egg. Suspect he won’t make 4 years.
I dont think he will make it either. I think he will quit or be removed from office.
It is one thing for him to attack people that are just saying the truth – it is another for all the others to carry the water for him, agree with falsehoods and attack the truth tellers. This will not last long – but I wonder if the damage will be irreversible.
Pat, that’s what I fear also. How irreversible will his behavior be?