Context, people

Oh wait, it turns out Trump was quoted out of context. You may wonder how that’s possible given that he said what he said at a live press briefing and there are many video clips of it with no telltale gaps or jerks where something was edited out, but that’s just because you’re a Nelitist.

The White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, on Friday said the news media had taken President Donald Trump’s statements on Thursday — when he said the US should investigate whether injecting disinfectant into people’s bodies might cure COVID-19 — out of context to run negative stories.

“President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasized again during yesterdays’ briefing,” McEnany said in a statement. “Leave it to the media to irresponsibly take President Trump out of context and run with negative headlines.”

Yes see the trouble with that is that it’s irrelevant. Trump said what he said, and it doesn’t matter that he has also said talktoyourdoctor. The point is not that he said “Pour Lysol down your throat right now,” the point is that he’s stupid and ignorant enough to talk about injecting disinfectant because it cleans hard surfaces so fast. The point is that he stood up in public and suggested that as an “interesting” idea for the medical experts to look into. (Mind you the point is also that some people could actually try it, but the sheer breathtaking stupidity is enough all by itself.)

The American Cleaning Institute also put out its own press release Friday “in response to speculation about the use of disinfectants in or on one’s body.”

“Disinfectants are meant to kill germs or viruses on hard surfaces,” the statement said. “Under no circumstances should they ever be used on one’s skin, ingested or injected internally. We remind everyone to please use all hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting products as directed in order to ensure safe, effective and intended use of those products.”

But Trump said the hands are a hard surface. He said it just this morning, in the Oval Office, talking to reporters. There are clips of that too.

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