This tweet from Donald Trump about the deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington rubbed a lot of people the wrong way:
The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly. Seven trillion dollars spent in the Middle East while our roads, bridges, tunnels, railways (and more) crumble! Not for long!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 18, 2017
CNN White House reporter Jeremy Diamond was among those put off by Trump’s initial response:
Trump's reaction to Amtrak train derailment: First, use the train accident to call attention to your infrastructure proposals. Second, express concern for the victims. pic.twitter.com/xMxotYXCkD
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) December 18, 2017
Was Trump’s decision to politicize a tragedy ill-advised? Inappropriate? Tasteless? Yep, all of the above. But was it unprecedented? Hell no. In fact, he was just carrying on one of his predecessor’s most cherished practices.
So Obama, then? https://t.co/DxFZ1Z2HnL
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/KC11A18A/status/942834530108485632
Like Obama & Democrats did during every shooting?
— Gary Carlo (@GaryACarlo) December 18, 2017
Dude.
When a Democrat does it, it's fine. In fact, "Something we should politicize." https://t.co/blrK6oZBwl— OneMoreCorrespondent (@ABoleynGirl) December 18, 2017
@JDiamond1 pic.twitter.com/Wbp7czossz
— Geoffrey Walker (@gewa76) December 18, 2017
Was Jeremy OK with that?
https://twitter.com/StrFatEng/status/942832218313052161
Obama would have at least tweeted a picture of him looking at a train.
— Archimedes Watts (@archimedeswatts) December 18, 2017
Heh. That’s true.
Look: the fact that Obama pulled this crap doesn’t excuse Trump’s doing it. But we’d have a lot more respect for the media’s indignation over Trump if they were remotely consistent in their disgust.
We’ll leave Jeremy with this food for thought:
First, use the train accident to call attention to your disapproval of our President.
You're doing the same thing sir.
— Ryan (@Blank_Faced) December 18, 2017
Put those stones down, Jeremy. Your glass house is awfully fragile.
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