For much of Christmas Eve night, the tubes were abuzz about another case of Donald Trump peddling alternative facts on Twitter. He claimed–once again–that he has ended Barack Obama’s eight-year war on Christmas. Never mind that there is ample video evidence of Barack and Michelle saying “Merry Christmas.”
But believe it or not, that wasn’t the most unhinged thing Trump did on Twitter on Christmas Eve. Not by a longshot. That happened earlier in the day. Sometime after 7:30 on Sunday morning, Trump was checking out the replies to his latest message touting this year’s stock market performance. One of Trump’s followers, “@shawgerald4,” whose display name is “Oregon4TRUMP,” replied with a meme that he liked so much that he retweeted it to the world.
Thank you President TRUMP!! pic.twitter.com/LKdkT0FL99
— oregon4TRUMP (@shawgerald4) December 23, 2017
If you look really close, you’ll see a blood splatter on the sole of Trump’s wingtip. On that splatter–the CNN logo. The message was obvious. The president of the United States was giving his tacit approval to violence against the media.
Just in case Trump deletes the retweet, here’s the evidence that he did indeed hit the retweet button.
Apparently Trump forgets that when you are president, a retweet is an endorsement.
CNN’s Jake Tapper got the message loud and clear.
CNN-labeled blood on the sole of his shoe.
Retweeted by the President of the United States on Christmas Eve. https://t.co/h4ijZx8WCw
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 24, 2017
So did a number of other reporters and political pundits.
The president needs to delete this. Criticism is fine when warranted, but this goes way too far with blood on the sole. There is a line and this crosses it. https://t.co/pqZ9kVwL7z
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) December 24, 2017
Trump retweeted an image that shows him having stamped out CNN.
What a shame that a national leader has reduced himself to this. https://t.co/OJzGCRGxBe— menaka doshi (@menakadoshi) December 24, 2017
This is what Trump is retweeting: A photo of him with a CNN squashed blood stain on the bottom of his shoe. This is not normal. pic.twitter.com/EvN4YDCQOa
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) December 24, 2017
Trump re-tweet of image showing CNN as blood on the sole of his shoe – reminds of this Rod Serling "Twilight Zone" quote: pic.twitter.com/pmxLjtSaM0
— Michiko Kakutani (@michikokakutani) December 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/944922910271201281
Former Trump adviser Jason Osborne thought Tapper was making a lot of fuss over nothing.
Seriously @jaketapper? 1)it looks like a bug as it clearly has eyes and 2) isn’t it possible that he didn’t even notice the bottom of his shoe and instead saw a picture that he liked of himself? You don’t have to make everything about your network.
— Jason Osborne (@_JasonOsborne) December 24, 2017
Tapper was having none of it.
The president retweeted an image of blood labeled “CNN” on the sole of his shoe. I noted it. Trump Adviser now faults *me* for “making this about” CNN. God bless us, everyone. https://t.co/kWzuKDOWmh
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 24, 2017
It’s easy to understand why Tapper was incredulous. After all, this isn’t the first time Trump has done this. Remember, this summer he retweeted a GIF showing him bodyslamming CNN, and also retweeted a political cartoon showing him as a train running over CNN.
National security lawyer Bradley Moss was equally aghast.
American journalists have died doing their job. When he’s not calling them the enemy of the people, the President has now at least twice retweeted images of violence against CNN. The fact that you’re trying to dismiss this shows how many Trump people are vile hacks. https://t.co/XjDfxpOASR
— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) December 24, 2017
Even some Republicans thought this was a bridge too far, like congressman-turned-talk show host Joe Walsh.
It's Christmas Eve morning. Trump tweets out nasty attacks on CNN and the FBI.
Mr President, put your phone down. It's Christmas. Quit attacking people on Twitter.
Grow up sir. Have you no sense of decency? Go spend time with your family. https://t.co/LVBFMIugr6
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 24, 2017
So did Bush 2004 strategist Matthew Dowd.
The President retweeting this on Christmas Eve, w/blood on his shoe representing CNN. White Evangelical Christians: is this the kind of leader that represents Jesus message of love and the hope of Bethlehem? https://t.co/aWwz2J7tdf
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) December 24, 2017
Dowd’s question is particularly apt. The religious right has tried to convince us that Trump is saved. But any talk about that should have been put to rest when Trump retweeted violent memes attacking CNN and Hillary Clinton. No one who really has Jesus in his heart would have hit the retweet button after seeing those images.
At best, this retweet shows Trump does not have the impulse control to be trusted around nuclear codes. At worst, it betrays a lack of respect for a free and critical press. In either case, this is yet more proof that this man is not fit to clean the White House, let alone serve in it.
(featured image courtesy @shawgerald4’s Twitter)
