News with a Twist
Trump’s(I) interview with CNBC demonstrates his sense of history(?), his business acumen(?) and, of course, his incoherence(!)
As the world watches the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald John Trump(I)*, it is easy to forget what a stable genius Donald Trump(I) actually is. And not only just a stable genius, but one who is the world’s greatest businessman, who knows words…”the best words”…and is apparently eager to use those words to show off his business acumen.
*Note: In keeping with Nancy Pelosi’s statement, “Trump will always be impeached. It cannot be erased,” Around the Block will henceforth follow his name with (I) whenever he is mentioned.
This week, Trump(I) attended the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Forum, the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Who better then to have attend this meeting than the world’s most powerful leader and most successful businessman…Donald John Trump(I).
Given Trump’s(I) status as both a world and business leader, he is naturally sought out for one-on-one interviews with the world’s media, like this one, where CNBC’s Joe Kernan asked Trump(I) to opine about Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, now that Tesla’s market value exceeds both GM and Ford.
Here’s the transcript of the interview:
KERNEN: Tesla’s now worth more than GM and Ford. Do you have comments on Elon Musk?
TRUMP (I): Well — you have to give him credit. I spoke to him very recently, and he’s also doing the rockets. He likes rockets. And — he does good at rockets too, by the way. I never saw where the engines come down with no wings, no anything, and they’re landing. I said I’ve never seen that before. And I was worried about him, because he’s one of our great geniuses, and we have to protect our genius. You know, we have to protect Thomas Edison and we have to protect all of these people that — came up with originally the light bulb and — the wheel and all of these things. And he’s one of our very smart people and we want to– we want to cherish those people.
I’ll leave it to CNN’s Chris Cillizza to get the final word on this exchange.
“So, he ‘does good at the rockets,’ you say? Musk’s company — Space X — has set a goal of building a ‘self-sustaining’ civilization on Mars or, put another way, ‘he likes rockets.‘”
“Musk is ‘one of our great geniuses’ and, as such, must be protected. Just like we protect Thomas Edison. Who died in 1931. But who, in case you had forgotten ‘came up with originally the light bulb.'”
“Not only do we need to protect geniuses like Musk (alive!) and Edison (not alive!), we also need to protect the person who invented the wheel.”
“The wheel was invented by the ancient Mesopotamians about 5,500 years ago. So, that one wasn’t an American invention. But we still need to protect it/them!“
Thanks, Chris, for your parsing of President Donald J. Trump’s(I) astute, penetrating and incisive words about Elon Musk, Tesla, rockets, Thomas A. Edison, the light bulb and wheels. A classic example of the stable genius at work.
But this interview got me thinking.
Do you wonder how the folks at Wharton react every time this stable genius, Wharton graduate opens his mouth? Do you think they’re looking to disavow themselves of the connection?
Around the Block checked. And, yes, they do. And, yes, they have.
Around the Block 
If only Wharton really did that…
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I assume every Wharton grad cringes when Trump and Wharton appear in the same sentence. Probably only reason the school doesn’t do what I suggested is because Fred Trump gave them a ton of money to take his miscreant son. But Penn/Wharton doesn’t get a pass: Don Jr., Ivanka and Tiffany all attended. Apparently the Trump “Foundation” made some serious “pledges” to the school. I say “pledges” because with Trump there’s no guarantee that the pledges actually turned into cash. Only Eric passed; went to Georgetown. I guess Wharton admissions told Trump no more when Eric applied but let Tiffany in since she went to Penn not Wharton.
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How did you get the ‘letter’ from Wharton ? Fake news? Hy
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That’s why I call it “News with a Twist.” But, in fact, the only part of the entire post that’s satire is the made up Wharton thing. You know if Wharton could do something like that, they would. The Trump interview should have been satire because it’s so insanely stupid. Sadly, it’s real; you can’t make that stuff up!
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Ted,
Amazing that he has the audacity to speak without the use of a teleprompter; apparently, he has no idea, or doesn’t care, that he is inarticulate and often offensive! Yet, his base (a good word) continues to embrace him! Am I being unfair……is there more there than meets this eye…….for the sake of our country, I fervently hope so!
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You’re not being unfair. The fact that his base continues to support him is bad. The fact that supposedly intelligent GOP senators do is criminal.
Re the Trump interview: As I replied to another comment, it could have been satire, like my Wharton letter, because it was so insanely stupid. Sadly, it was real; you can’t make that stuff up!
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Thanks, Ted!
Well said. I pray “some a Republicans
Will support impeachment!
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I share your pain. Unfortunately, from my perspective, that’s not going to happen, prayers or not. The GOP lemming-like support of Trump is a national disgrace. And it’s not just coming from those who are afraid to cross Trump because of the fear of losing his support will lead to their defeat in 2020. There are those who are not running…Romney, Alexander (TN, retiring) who have nothing to lose; and there are the so-called moderates like Lisa “I don’t think we need to see any more evidence or hear additional witnesses” Murkowski and Susan “I’m disturbed by the press in the gallery looking over the rail to see how we’re reacting” Collins who, on the real issue, the president is a crook, are willing to give him a pass. It’s unfathomable!
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Okay, I know this is satire but did Wharton actually give the message below? I want it to be true!!!!!! I’m trying not to listen to or watch the impeachment trial but when in the car I do listen and I become so irate that even one republican can have the audacity to vote against impeachment . This is when I wish there was a hell that is so very, very hot. >
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I share your pain. Unfortunately, the Wharton thing was part of the satire…I created it. But I’ll bet they wish they could disavow themselves somehow.
On the bigger, more serious issue, allow me to share a conversation I had with someone very close to you in response to his comment that the Senate trial is on every channel except Disney…where it should be:
You know, you can joke all you want…but this really is serious.
Adam’s Schiff’s summation yesterday was very powerful. His points…the evidence is overwhelming. And if you acquit (which you will…he didn’t actually say that…I saw it in the thought bubble emanating out of his head as he spoke) because “we should let the voters decide,” a) how much more damage can he do while he’s still in office, particularly that he will believe he can “do anything he wants” as written in Article 2: and b) How can you let the voters decide when it is clear that he is already and will continue, to cheat in order to win?
The joke, no the crime, is that we have 53 GOP senators who are unwilling to listen to facts, won’t allow additional, more relevant facts to be heard, and are derisive to Americans who disagree with them. But they are senators who will take orders from the defendant who has made it clear that he wants them to get this over before the Super Bowl so he can have his SB interview unencumbered by the sham impeachment.
No, it’s not funny. It’s a disgrace!
So, again, I share your pain!
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