In the wake of Donald Trump’s upset victory in 2016, there was at least some faint hope that he would at least try to sound presidential. After all, you would have thought that the dignity of the office he was about to assume would change him.
As we now know, that hope was dashed with how the president-elect saw fit to wish the world a happy 2017.
Happy New Year to all, including to my many enemies and those who have fought me and lost so badly they just don't know what to do. Love!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2016
That tweet left no doubt–we were about to have a president who was nothing more than a toddler trapped in a 70-year-old body. Trump was deservedly sliced, diced, and julienned for this–most famously when Mark Hamill read that tweet and several Trump tweets in the voice of the Joker.
Well, apparently Trump didn’t learn his lesson. On Sunday afternoon, Trump fired off this.
As our Country rapidly grows stronger and smarter, I want to wish all of my friends, supporters, enemies, haters, and even the very dishonest Fake News Media, a Happy and Healthy New Year. 2018 will be a great year for America!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017
Wow. That tweet is Trump in a nutshell. Narcissism and gaslighting all rolled into one.
Moreover, it came on the heels of Trump’s dumpster fire of an interview in The New York Times–a story that led to concerns about Trump’s mental state. If Trump was trying to reassure the nation that he was mentally well, it didn’t work.
Not surprisingly, Twitter was not pleased.
What a sad, small, thing to write on New Year's Eve. https://t.co/C6LmDIHZ3N
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) December 31, 2017
What an asshole. The country growing smarter will accelerate your downfall and the entire Trump crime syndicate. https://t.co/TjkFnvlN5E
— Geri (@infobrat) January 1, 2018
After Donald Trump called Americans “haters and losers” in his Happy New Year tweet…
I really hope Melania expands on her amazing 2017 Cyberbullying campaign right into 2018.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) January 1, 2018
Not enough characters to add “nanny nanny boo boo” at the end?
— panthergrrl (@panthergrrl) January 1, 2018
This is the most hateful New Years eve message a President of the United States of America ever sent to it's people, in my lifetimes, & most likely ever. You should be ashamed of yourself. And anyone defending this horrible message should be ashamed of THEMSELVES as well.
— Lisa Walsh (@lwalshmill) January 1, 2018
What President talks about “haters” in a happy new year message? Did we elect a 12-year-old girl?
— The Party of Reason & Progress (@TheOfficialPORP) December 31, 2017
Presidents should have more class and dignity than this tweet displays.
— Jonna Chissus (@JonnaChissus) January 1, 2018
What kind of Holiday greeting is that? I hope by 2020 people have had enough of this kind of behavior and vote him out. Embarrassing.
— MsScott (@msmosaic2) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/FloridaResists/status/947859402505191424
You should take note of other, respected people and the way they said Happy New Year. You have much to learn about decorum…
— Larziehead (@Larziehead) January 1, 2018
Grow up and for once try to unite us as a country, MR PRESIDENT! A simple happy New Year to all would've gone a long way coming from you, rather than this childish tweet.
— Orlando Andino (@oandino70) January 1, 2018
So this is our POTUS’s new year greeting. Don’t know why this surprises me. I shldve known it was 2 much to hope for something inspiring and uplifting. He just doesn’t have it in him. Sad.
— Marlene Mills-Mar (@marleymm) January 1, 2018
If "try to act more mature" was one of Trump's New Year's resolutions, he's already broken it. Welcome to 2018.
— Richard Hine (@richardhine) January 1, 2018
This tweet looks even more embarrassing when you consider how Barack Obama wished the world a happy New Year.
As we count down to the new year, we get to reflect and prepare for what’s ahead. For all the bad news that seemed to dominate our collective consciousness, there are countless stories from this year that remind us what's best about America.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
Kat Creech, a wedding planner in Houston, turned a postponed wedding into a volunteer opportunity for Hurricane Harvey victims. Thirty wedding guests became an organization of hundreds of volunteers. That’s a story from 2017. https://t.co/yxhjwkr5Se
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
Chris Long gave his paychecks from the first six games of the NFL season to fund scholarships in Charlottesville, VA. He wanted to do more, so he decided to give away an entire season’s salary. That’s a story from 2017. https://t.co/NL0RoARkan
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
Ten-year-old Jahkil Jackson is on a mission to help homeless people in Chicago. He created kits full of socks, toiletries, and food for those in need. Just this week, Jahkil reached his goal to give away 5,000 “blessing bags.” That’s a story from 2017. https://t.co/muxPZnEGkd
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
All across America people chose to get involved, get engaged and stand up. Each of us can make a difference, and all of us ought to try. So go keep changing the world in 2018.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2017
The contrast in tone could not be more stark. Appealing to our better selves versus kicking your foes in the groin. In case you missed it, that’s one of the president’s primary duties.
It was obvious from the time Trump rode down the escalator of Trump Tower that he would never begin to understand this. He’s spent the last two-plus years proving us right–mocking the disabled, degrading women, callousness toward the people of Puerto Rico, etc., etc. And his New Year’s messages over the last two years have more than proven it.
(featured image: screenshot via YouTube)
