Donald Trump has unpatriotic 9/11 meltdown
Hard to believe that seventeen years ago, the United States suffered its worst attack on American soil when nineteen airplane hijackers wreaked havoc on this nation. “President” Donald J. Trump began the day in an unpresidential way and then continued that behavior. His first tweet of the day was not about the horrific deadliest act of terrorism in American history, but rather a Lou Dobbs quote about the Russian investigation:
“We have found nothing to show collusion between President Trump & Russia, absolutely zero, but every day we get more documentation showing collusion between the FBI & DOJ, the Hillary campaign, foreign spies & Russians, incredible.” After a few more tweets quoting Dobbs, and attacking the Justice Department some more, he and First Lady Melania Trump then headed to Shanksville, Pennsylvania to attend a Flight 93 September 11th Memorial Service. He tweeted about leaving Washington, D.C., to attend the memorial.
What he did when he landed was the most unpresidential thing he perhaps did on this national day of remembrance: as he left the plane and arriving at the event in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, he smiled and did a double fist pump, as if he was psyching himself up for one of his cult revival rallies. Trump also gave a “thumbs up” sign in front of the Flight 93 National Memorial.
Trump did read off a very sober statement on 9/11, but his actions and tweets speak louder than the words he dryly read in remembrance of the worst act of terrorism this nation has faced. On the heels of his remarks caught on tape about the Niger ambush joking about terrorists, we see what this president is about – and we should disregard his ongoing obsession about NFL players and what they do during the National Anthem. His actions suggest he is taking a knee when it comes to patriotism and caring about this nation.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.