It’s really unfortunate that President Trump isn’t getting more (or any) credit for Wednesday afternoon’s “listening session” with survivors of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting, their parents, and teachers. Students floated some very good ideas (such as holding more emergency drills and addressing bullying) that would be very easy to implement.
But no, because Trump was hosting the event, it had to be trashed. Maybe we’re wrong, but the list President Trump was photographed holding looks to us like notes to open the session.
Actual AP photo of the President's notes during the listening session (Carolyn Kaster) pic.twitter.com/jQtBvYTP3g
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) February 21, 2018
Trump's notes for today's listening session seem to include: "what would you most want me to know about your experience?" and "I hear you." https://t.co/YbGpeT3vmY
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) February 21, 2018
We’d also venture a guess to say that No. 2 reads, “What can we do to help you feel safe?”
Again, we’re assuming that these were notes to kick off the session, but apparently, we’re the only people to think that. Others seemed to think they were canned responses to students’ comments or even reminders to the president to express empathy.
Trump carried a list of five responses to the students and parents appealing to him to prevent school shootings.
1. “What would you most want me to know about your experience?”
5. “I hear you.” https://t.co/VqMqj3zEMg
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 21, 2018
Note that Trump didn’t say “I hear you” or the other talking points someone wrote for him on a White House notecard. He said, “I just grieve for you,” and “nothing worse” and other sentiments. https://t.co/8j0jE99Gxp
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 21, 2018
"(5) I hear you" https://t.co/tGXPfmW7jw
— Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) February 21, 2018
“I HEAR YOU” had to be scripted. I have nothing left. https://t.co/smnqXCUtSL
— alyssa mastromonaco (@AlyssaMastro44) February 21, 2018
Trump can't even remember why he's in the room and needs a note telling him to pretend he's listening. Literally has a cheat sheet saying I hear you. Show me a dumber human and it's likely a tree. https://t.co/RcphAJOtE7
— Todd Poirier (@todd_poirier) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/zack_hood/status/966446700092039168
https://twitter.com/wfederman/status/966446778173284354
This list is like a cheat sheet you’d give to an alien who was trying to pass off as a human with empathy https://t.co/bjVfVs7UXu
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) February 21, 2018
Barack Obama sang “amazing grace” at a funeral in Charleston and Donald Trump needs a fucking cheat card to show empathy. https://t.co/J9fnsa3Zes
— Emmy Bengtson (@EmmyA2) February 21, 2018
these are notes for @POTUS during his "listening session" with students who survived gun massacres on campus .. and parents of victims. notes to express sympathy. https://t.co/lUXDZzng5g
— Bill Ritter (@billritter7) February 21, 2018
President made a note to himself to feel empathy https://t.co/8EeKxg0uvY
— DaveRubinLogic (@DaveRubinLogic) February 21, 2018
This stone cold man is not only completely alone in the inability to shed a tear during this heartbreaking time, he needs numbered talking points like:
5) I hear you. https://t.co/hl2f5wi1X5
— Couldn't Say the Wouldn't for the Treason. (@TheAnuhart) February 21, 2018
The President had to be reminded to show empathy in a listening session on gun violence. Let that sink in. https://t.co/lwTDxl0lZB
— Kyle Sutton (@kbsutt) February 21, 2018
No empathy cheat sheet will mitigate his disorder. https://t.co/gYOGJKzNUw
— (((Robert Arthur))) (@jaunte) February 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/jlicht1968/status/966449922345259008
https://twitter.com/katewillette/status/966447158885892096
Oh. My. God. https://t.co/VY0IeZ4hf3
— jacqueline conrad (@jhadleyconrad) February 21, 2018
Assuming this isn't fake, my opinion of #POTUS45 just sank below Earth's upper mantle. https://t.co/wwGGTEHZSM
— Alfred B (@konpundro) February 21, 2018
So, will the mainstream media latch onto this hot scoop?
I have an entire field where I grow my fucks to give about Trumps notes. Alas, it is still too cold to harvest a single one. https://t.co/Ut4ZOtXZpN
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) February 21, 2018
* * *
Update:
We asked when the mainstream media would latch on to this hot scoop, didn’t we? Well, The Washington Post already has published its thoughtful “analysis” of Trump’s “empathy deficit.”
Analysis: This photo of Trump’s notes captures his empathy deficit better than anything https://t.co/GnRGr9gRX6 pic.twitter.com/40KyfKdTx6
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 21, 2018
OK, it’s not just us. Matt Pearce of the Los Angeles Times weighed in with a dissenting opinion.
I'm gonna mildly dissent here and say that if I were leading a highly charged and emotional public event, I'd probably want notes reminding me what I should say. https://t.co/M83Et6EjIP
— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) February 22, 2018
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