President Donald Trump spent Wednesday morning, one day before Thanksgiving, paying his respects to an American soldier who had been killed in Niger and whose partial remains were recovered last week, as well as generally encouraging Americans to be thankful for their blessings.
Just kidding. He actually rehashed some petty quarrels.
It wasn’t the White House, it wasn’t the State Department, it wasn’t father LaVar’s so-called people on the ground in China that got his son out of a long term prison sentence – IT WAS ME. Too bad! LaVar is just a poor man’s version of Don King, but without the hair. Just think..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017
…LaVar, you could have spent the next 5 to 10 years during Thanksgiving with your son in China, but no NBA contract to support you. But remember LaVar, shoplifting is NOT a little thing. It’s a really big deal, especially in China. Ungrateful fool!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017
The NFL is now thinking about a new idea – keeping teams in the Locker Room during the National Anthem next season. That’s almost as bad as kneeling! When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017
Within the span of less than half an hour, Trump pirouetted from insulting LaVar Ball to lambasting the NFL player protests. LaVar Ball, you may recall, told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on Monday that he doesn’t need to thank Trump for the release of his son, LiAngelo Ball, from China. Trump was livid at the notion that he shouldn’t receive credit for his part in trying to secure the younger Ball’s freedom, as evidenced by these tweets he issued on Monday.
Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017
Shoplifting is a very big deal in China, as it should be (5-10 years in jail), but not to father LaVar. Should have gotten his son out during my next trip to China instead. China told them why they were released. Very ungrateful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017
Trump’s next tweet was a response to a recent report that the NFL may require players to stay in the locker rooms to avoid any protesting during the national anthem. After that brief tangent, however, he went back to insulting LaVar Ball.
Of course, Trump managed to initially bungle even this attempt at retweeting one of his supporters. The mistake? At first he didn’t recognize that the man was actually supporter.
The president, who was apparently not content with just attacking black athletes on Twitter this morning, went after one of his own supporters as well. The tweet's now deleted (whoops). pic.twitter.com/iDkScRMd3d
— Zach Montellaro (@ZachMontellaro) November 22, 2017
Trump also seized the opportunity to brag about the economy under his administration, ignoring that he merely inherited the good conditions left for him by his predecessor, President Barack Obama. For that, he retweeted far-right Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
“Far right”? You mean “right so far,” as in @realDonaldTrump has been right so far abt how to kick the economy into high gear. https://t.co/VlTRcUkBv8
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) November 22, 2017
Will be having meetings and working the phones from the Winter White House in Florida (Mar-a-Lago). Stock Market hit new Record High yesterday – $5.5 trillion gain since E. Many companies coming back to the U.S. Military building up and getting very strong.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017
Finally, Trump included a brief, anemic tweet about a tragedy that occurred within the Navy — something he’s actually responsible for.
The @USNavy is conducting search and rescue following aircraft crash. We are monitoring the situation. Prayers for all involved. https://t.co/1AxmegKqvu
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2017
Lest you think Trump had suddenly changed his tune and decided to spend the day before Thanksgiving taking his office seriously, though, CNBC’s Christina Wilkie posted this observation about Trump’s routine for the day.
As a journalist, this is borderline offensive.
8:06AM: White House makes pool reporter issue a correction to say "The president will NOT have a low-key day and has a full schedule of meetings and phone calls."
9::26AM: The president goes golfing— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) November 22, 2017
