President Trump gave a closed-door speech to Republicans in Florida Saturday, but CNN was able to obtain a recording of the speech and highlighted a bit about Trump suggesting he might “give a shot someday” to becoming president for life.
CNN obtained a tape of Trump at a closed-door fundraiser. He said this about China's president: "He's now president for life. President for life. And he's great. And look, he was able to do that. I think it's great. Maybe we'll give that a shot some day." https://t.co/FzLjVtlhl1
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 4, 2018
Actuarially speaking, a second term for an almost 72 year old man…. https://t.co/7z7nHYVChf
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) March 4, 2018
Anyone who bothered to click through and read CNN’s report saw that reporter Kevin Liptak called the speech “freewheeling” and suggested that the remarks, “delivered inside the ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate during a lunch and fundraiser, were upbeat, lengthy, and peppered with jokes and laughter.”
This is one of those stories where I will want to hear the audio. The tone matters… https://t.co/bG6rzxjzyF
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) March 4, 2018
To its credit, CNN did post the audio as part of its video report (available here) — and yes, it’s painfully obvious Trump was joking and playing off of the crowd response.
Check out how many blue checkmarks were triggered by Brian Stelter’s tweet, though.
This is chilling https://t.co/mTzPScTtTY
— US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) March 4, 2018
A clear and present danger to the United States of America and the very foundations that this country was based upon. https://t.co/uhOwNQXdKH
— Bryan William Jones (@BWJones) March 4, 2018
"President-for-Life Trump" https://t.co/3GMtVFmnX0
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) March 4, 2018
Go ahead. Act surprised. https://t.co/TceFYMxdgH
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 4, 2018
Trump is not joking. FYI. https://t.co/TVgWmjgAdj
— deray (@deray) March 4, 2018
DeRay has spoken, people. DERAY.
Trump has no respect for democracy. That's why he attacks the free press, our judicial system, and the FBI. He doesn't want any independent checks on his power. We have to act to check his power before he undermines our institutions. https://t.co/tk2tzwkuPF
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) March 4, 2018
It cannot be overstated how outrageous and serious these comments are. Trump is a clear and present threat to democracy. https://t.co/4FdzDYzLaN
— Cameron Atfield (@CameronAtfield) March 4, 2018
“President for life… Maybe we’ll try that some day.”
We’ve known for a while that Trump cares nothing about democracy but this is chilling—and a sentiment completely at odds with his oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. https://t.co/ODk1r8evF1
— Matt Ortega (@MattOrtega) March 4, 2018
This is the language of a tyrant and un-American to the core. We are not ruled by a dictator. https://t.co/ODk1r8evF1
— Matt Ortega (@MattOrtega) March 4, 2018
Holy crap. It isn't a giant leap from Trump saying things like this to imagining him claiming bogus voter fraud & refusing to leave office if Dems beat him in 2020, sparking a constitutional crisis https://t.co/riiN3DwoUF
— Stephen Wolf (@PoliticsWolf) March 4, 2018
The biggest danger with Trump has always been that whenever his term in office was up that he just wouldn't leave. https://t.co/RJE0rbBMo5
— Kyle Kondik (@kkondik) March 4, 2018
Yeah, well even Barack Obama packed up his stuff and turned over the keys after 8 years, so we’re pretty sure the peaceful transfer of power will survive a second Trump term. Besides, haven’t the intelligentsia in the mainstream media been reporting for a year now that Trump really doesn’t want the job, never wanted it, and is looking for an excuse to leave?
Important note: Our constitution does not allow this. https://t.co/bBPsgfQqtl
— Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) March 4, 2018
Important note: conservatives of all people know this. There’s also that Second Amendment thing in there that liberals think ought to be repealed to appease a handful of telegenic high school kids, but there you go.
Remember when we all freaked out over this story? We don’t.
Obama: I could have won a third term https://t.co/fJ5YkCInYx via @NolanDMcCaskill pic.twitter.com/AvQ2gNpABt
— POLITICO (@politico) December 26, 2016
Once more for giggles:
Important note: Our constitution does not allow this. https://t.co/bBPsgfQqtl
— Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) March 4, 2018
Let’s give Greg Sargent of The Washington Post a bit of credit for admitting it sounds like an offhand joke to a room full of supporters.
I'm all for remaining on high alert about all the ways Trump continues to pose an authoritarian threat, but this sounds like he's joking. https://t.co/dU8FTZ4JE4
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) March 4, 2018
Listen to the clip. He’s joking.
That was obviously a joke. In addition to being #FakeNews, @CNN also has no humor https://t.co/mRpIedGcUx
— Obi_1_D_AllKnowing ?? (@obiopiah) March 4, 2018
CNN clearly doesn’t know how to take a joke.
— Richard Armande Mills (RAM) (@RAMRANTS) March 4, 2018
He's not allowed to joke ?
I'm watching the blue checks with their hair on fire *again* JFC, this outrage masturbation is bloody exhausting https://t.co/Do5hD8yjPL— LaurieAnn ??♂️? (@mooshakins) March 4, 2018
Join the conversation as a VIP Member