In life, it’s really important to choose your battles wisely. Too bad our media seems to have missed that memo.
This afternoon, Donald Trump couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a joke at Canadian PM Justin Trudeau … and intrepid reporters like Jim Acosta were on it:
SCOOP: When Trudeau pressed Trump on national security justification for tariffs on Canada Trump responded: “didn’t you guys burn down the WH?” That was Britain during the War of 1812 https://t.co/tj4iHX7wPD
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 6, 2018
He wrote up a whole piece and everything:
According to the sources, Trudeau pressed Trump on how he could justify the tariffs as a “national security” issue. In response, Trump quipped to Trudeau, “Didn’t you guys burn down the White House?” referring to the War of 1812.
The problem with Trump’s comments to Trudeau is that British troops burned down the White House during the War of 1812. Historians note the British attack on Washington was in retaliation for the American attack on York, Ontario, in territory that eventually became Canada, which was then a British colony.
Wow, that’s some “SCOOP,” Jimbo!
What a Scoop, Scoopy.
— The President of the Oskar Werner fan club (@pipandbaby) June 6, 2018
And speaking of jokes, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger joke than Jim Acosta. He’s constantly giving us new reasons to laugh at him.
Right. That was Britain. Not the Canadian Republic that exist—wait. https://t.co/pVkfVl3oZN
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 6, 2018
Recommended
You'll have to more carefully explain this joke, no one even knows about world history from 2012 anymore, let alone 1812.
— Roccam's Occam (@RoccamSoccam) June 6, 2018
The joke is that Trump is correct here, and Acosta is wrong. https://t.co/csTltmGEB9 https://t.co/YnhMQJD1ma
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 6, 2018
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
Seems @acosta is unaware that Canada was not independent of Britain in 1814. And Canadian schools still teach the burning of DC as retaliation for US burning Toronto:https://t.co/2SRFia7wwthttps://t.co/o0nfEfK7s5https://t.co/xw8DUnvCbM https://t.co/vGC2hCyMeK
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) June 6, 2018
More from Smithsonian Magazine:
The British and American armies, supplemented by militia and First Nations warriors, pushed back and forth for nearly three years, temporarily trading territory along the Niagara river, and hitting each other at their cores.
York, now Toronto, was captured and looted. And Newark, now Niagara-on-the-Lake, was burned. British forces attacked Washington and torched the White House.
Such a violent history is surprising to many, given that Canada and the US now act more like siblings than neighbors. Turns out this cheerful outlook may be due more to forgetfulness than reconciliation.
The Wall Street Journal’s Alistair MacDonald writes,
Many Canadian children grow up learning their forebears triumphed after American aggressors tried and failed to invade what was then a British colony. For Americans, a fledging nation forced Britain to respect U.S. sovereignty, allowing it to focus on its expansion westward.
El. Oh. El.
So check this out.
It turns out that it's an urban legend of sorts in Canada that they burned the White House.
CANADIANS think this. https://t.co/eexDsOTpH9
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
Canda did not become a nation till 1867…but yes, we like taking credit for it…hehe
— Canucklehead (@Chicomaki1) June 6, 2018
Here's more evidence that CANADIANS themselves think they burned the White House. https://t.co/s4cWif4nTW
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
— M D Campbell ??????? (@MCampbell1041) June 6, 2018
But Jim Acosta’s gotta bust Trump for something, right?
IT WAS A JOKE GUYS.
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
So… now I sit back and laugh even more as people go back and forth over a dumb joke.
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
Guys, c'mon.
That was a great line about Canada.
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
This is honest-to-God a pretty hilarious line from Trump.
— John Ekdahl (@JohnEkdahl) June 6, 2018
RIGHT??? I don't get why they had to try to dunk on him this time. https://t.co/phXS06XKUY
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
Because they can’t help it.
A source on the call said: “to the degree one can ever take what is said as a joke. The impact on Canada and ultimately on workers in the US won't be a laughing matter." with my Canadian colleague @paulanewtonCNN https://t.co/RW2aRrMkeS
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 6, 2018
IOW, Jim looked stupid for trying to push his earlier tweet as major SCOOP. https://t.co/ryi4qqmbWU
— Senate Popular VotEEE (@EEElverhoy) June 6, 2018
Pretty much.
They could have just laughed at the joke.
But in their zeal to dunk on Trump, they're dunking on themselves instead.
Again.
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
Even funnier is that Trump probably had no idea, really.
And Acosta trying to dunk on Trump wound up dunking on himself. https://t.co/sHce9NiIMO
— RBe (@RBPundit) June 6, 2018
Works every time it’s tried.
Obviously, a War of 1812 joke isn't a very helpful answer by Trump, but "actually, that wasn't Canada" is not the hill for the press to die on here.
Yet, they can't help themselves. They want the Daily Show punchline.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) June 6, 2018
Please read the story.. we have that context in there. https://t.co/oChwaNO9Dh
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 6, 2018
And yet, like so many other journos, you went for the clickbaity tweet. https://t.co/AKcj4aQJjK
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) June 6, 2018
Here’s a thought:
Sarah Sanders shouldn't let @acosta ask another question until he apologizes on camera https://t.co/cphD64TUAh
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) June 6, 2018
Sounds reasonable.
Rewriting history to own the cons.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 6, 2018
Snort.
Last word to Charles C.W. Cooke, who pretty much nails it:
That said, the idea that Canada is a threat is as absurd as Trump’s desire for a trade war. In conclusion: I
hate everyone.— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 6, 2018
Dare we say … burn it all down?
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