‘Welcome Back to the Studio’
President Donald Trump once again revealed he sees his presidency as just another season in his reality TV show, telling reporters Wednesday afternoon that his “performance” one day earlier received such “great reviews” news anchors sent him letters of praise.
“Welcome back to the studio,” he said as he opened up a meeting of his Cabinet Wednesday.Â
“Yesterday we had a bipartisan meeting with House members and Senators on immigration reform,” Trump said in front of cameras. “It was a tremendous meeting. Actually, it was reported as incredibly good, and my performance,” Trump bragged – puffing himself up before catching what he had just said – “you know, some of them called it a ‘performance,’ I consider it work, but, got great reviews by everybody other than two networks.”
The president claimed those networks’ coverage was “phenomenal for about two hours” until their network bosses ordered them to change their reporting. There is exactly zero evidence of that.
“A lot of those anchors sent us letters saying that was one of the greatest meetings they’ve ever witnessed,” Trump claimed. He did not release the letters or name the anchors who supposedly sent them.
Trump went on to boast that the “ratings” for his meeting that was supposed to decide the fate of 800,000 DACAÂ enrollees, were “fantastic,” and that “they always are.”
Again, the meeting was supposed to fix the immigration program Trump announced he is killing. DACA offers undocumented immigrants brought to America by their parents when they were children temporary protection in the form of a work permit, ID, and the promise to not be deported unless they act outside the law.Â
The news media and many conservatives have been praising Trump for the meeting, falsely claiming it was unprecedented, and marveling that he could conduct such an event.Â
Daily Mail reporter:
And a response:
ABC News’ political director:
And a response:
Of course, President Barack Obama and many other presidents have done the same, a lot more than just once, and for far longer. President Obama famously held a similar meeting on health care reform, and actually was able to debate policy. Trump was mocked for agreeing to anything any lawmaker suggested. At one point Republicans were forced to remind him what “his” position on a DACA bill actually was.
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