Time for distractions
In a frenetic presidency that has been marked by jarring contrasts, he added another Saturday night: suiting up in black-tie regalia and telling jokes about invading Greenland and bombing Iran even as demonstrators assembled across the nation to rebuke his aggressive roundups of noncitizens in Minneapolis.
In one sense, Trump’s appearance put him inside one of official Washington’s longtime traditions: the annual dinner of the Alfalfa Club, an exclusive organization of CEOs, politicians, and other Washington luminaries. But it was done in characteristic Trumpian fashion, at once unapologetic and awkward, with barbs aimed at political adversaries, grievances over perceived slights and punch lines that at times fell flat before a bipartisan audience.
Ah yes, unapologetic and awkward, more commonly known as vulgar and rude. In characteristic Trumpian fashion=trashy and stupid.
Spending his Saturday evening, as he himself put it in his remarks, in a room that included “people I hate” was an unlikely but somehow fitting end to a week in which he continued to test the limits of his power but also found time for distractions.
They aren’t distractions though, not to him. His war on everything and everyone with the slightest trace of basic decency is his favorite thing.
It was the first time Trump addressed the Alfalfa Club, speaking before a room whose membership includes such foes as JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon (whose bank he is suing), David Rubenstein (whom he fired as head of the Kennedy Center), and Jerome H. Powell (the outgoing Fed chairman whose role he is investigating).
Some jokes landed with a thud, and the room fell silent repeatedly.
“So many people in the room I hate. Most of you I like,” he said, according to an attendee. “Who in the hell thought this was going to happen?”
Huh. Gee, with wit and eloquence like that it’s hard to figure out why the room kept falling silent.
I’d like to see privileged audiences like this booing, leaving, or not showing up. Giving him an audience, even an uncomfortable one, is part of the sanewashing. Heckle. Get up and go. Let him rage to an empty room. It’s time to disrupt his demands and expectations as much as he has ignored and violated the norms and standards by which the vast majority of adults comport themselves. I can understand that keeping your head down might be a tiny bit safer, but safety is relative. Nobody is safe with Trump. What does it matter if you’re not in his immediate line of fire if he burns down the country? And the world? It’s one thing knowing which side of your bread is buttered, but how long will it take to realize the butter is rancid?
Trump’s trashy, stupid, vulgarity and rudeness is no longer surprising. He does not deserve a polite audience willing to sit there and take it. That’s part of his narc supply, his power trip. He does it because he can. He will keep on doing it. THe’s not going to change. he only “reform” possible for Trump is total incapacitation, or death. He enjoys making fun of people, humiliating people, hurting people killing people. This is what he does. This is who he is. It will only get worse as he continues to deteriorate mentally. Why go along? Why play the part of “adoring fan,” or “obediently silent extra” Trump has scripted for you in his head? Time to miss your cue, to give yourself a speaking role. Trump trashed civility first; there’s not a “polite conversation” left to ruin. There is a larger world watching what happens. Pushback is not uncalled for, and does not require sinking to Trump’s level. At some point non-cooperation has to be pointed and public.
I can understand that keeping your head down might be a tiny bit safer, but safety is relative. And tenuous. Nobody is safe with Trump. What does it matter if you’re not in his immediate line of fire, if he burns down the country? And the world? It’s one thing knowing which side of your bread is buttered, but how long will it take to realize the butter is rancid?