Donald Trump says he loves me
EJ Montini: The president says his movement is one built on love for 'fellow citizens.' But who are those citizens?
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he loves me.
“Our movement is a movement built on love,” Trump said during his campaign rally in Phoenix. “It’s a love for fellow citizens.”
I am a fellow citizen.
So, Trump loves me.
Although … during his speech the president spoke with disdain, even hatred, toward the media.
I am a member of the media.
Which I suppose means the president and the members of his movement love all their fellow citizens – except reporters.
Who else does Donald Trump 'love?'
On the other hand, Trump also spoke derisively of those who protested outside his rally. They, too, are fellow citizens.
Which must mean that Trump loves all of his fellow citizens except journalists and protesters.
And also a few U.S. senators.
Without saying their names, Trump trashed Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, who happen to be fellow citizens.
So the president loves all of his fellow citizens minus the journalists, protesters and a few senators.
And former President Obama.
Trump spoke very unkindly about Obama, a fellow citizen. Consequently, it appears that Trump loves all of his fellow citizens except journalists, protesters, some U.S. senators and President Obama.
And judges, prosecutors and investigators.
All of whom are fellow citizens.
Trump really does love Joe Arpaio
Trump suggested that Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of violating a federal judge’s order, was treated unfairly by those who prosecuted him. The president didn’t seem to like those people at all. And neither did the members of the audience.
Still, Trump professed his love for all of his fellow citizens, apart from journalists, protesters, Sens. McCain and Flake, former President Obama, judges, prosecutors and investigators.
And also, well, pretty much anyone who works in Washington, D.C.
Trump suggested that fellow citizens affiliated with the government are not worthy of respect but instead are creatures of “the swamp.”
Not to be loved.
Therefore, to review, the president most definitely loves all of his fellow citizens, with the possible exception of journalists, protesters, Sens. McCain and Flake, former President Obama, judges, prosecutors, investigators and individuals who work in Washington, D.C.
And university officials.
Trump spoke harshly about them and the decision by some universities to remove Confederate statues from their campuses. He called those who oversee these institutions "weak." The crowd booed them.
To that end, we now can say the president loves each and every fellow citizen … who is not a journalist, protester, McCain, Flake, former President Obama, a judge, a prosecutor, an investigator, a person who works in Washington, D.C., or a university official.
Or an immigrant.
It certainly didn’t seem as if the president loves them. At all. And it didn’t seem that his supporters love them, either.
Still, Trump said, “Our movement is a movement built on love. It’s a love for fellow citizens.”
