Flattery has lengthy been a part of the playbook inside President Donald Trump’s orbit, the place reward isn’t simply inspired — it’s anticipated. Trump has constructed a popularity for rewarding those that say the proper issues and sidelining those that don’t.
However with tensions rising contained in the White Home, together with two abrupt firings in lower than two months, even routine reward is beginning to land in a different way. On this atmosphere, each public praise is being scrutinized for what it says, and what it could be making an attempt to do.
White home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped in final week to ship one in every of her most over-the-top endorsements but about how “well-read” Trump is.
It’s lengthy been rumored that Trump doesn’t learn. He watches hours of tv information daily, in keeping with varied sources and reporting over time, however in relation to truly studying a e book, it’s apparently not his factor.
Leavitt gushed over Trump and his studying habits throughout an interview on April 2 at George Washington College in Washington with Turning Level USA chairwoman and CEO Erika Kirk as a part of the group’s spring tour.
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She began off by suggesting one of the best piece of recommendation she was ever given was “to attempt to be essentially the most well-read individual in each room.”
“I attempt to be daily, however Donald Trump at all times is. That man doesn’t miss a narrative. Let me inform you. He’s at all times studying the papers and watching the TV,” she astoundingly bragged, clearly not understanding what the time period “well-read” even means.
However she cluelessly added, “He doesn’t miss something anybody says in the entire world. I don’t understand how he does it and consumes all of it, and it’s rather a lot.”
Then she went a step additional, additionally seeming to check media literacy with being “well-read.”
“You’re college students,” she continued. “You’re, you’re working, you’re in class. You wish to have enjoyable, you wish to reside lives. You may’t devour each piece of stories, however earlier than you get actually sizzling and bothered about one thing, or possibly offended and even actually inspired by one thing, verify different sources after which use your finest judgment to type of stability what the reality is. And sadly, that’s simply the way in which it needs to be completed.”
This isn’t unhealthy recommendation, in actual fact, it is rather correct by way of understanding and trusting the information sources, publications, and shops, however it simply has nothing to do with being well-read.
The definition of well-read is an individual who’s educated and knowledgeable because of in depth studying.
Merriam-Webster defines it as “well-informed or deeply versed by way of studying.”
Social media wasn’t having any of Leavitt’s duplicity on this outrageous declare about Trump.
In fact, Trump’s archnemesis, a surprised California Gov. Gavin Newsom, couldn’t let this one cross and responded in his normal hysterical means.
“DONALD TRUMP IS THE MOST WELL-READ PERSON IN THE ROOM? WHO ELSE IS IN THAT ROOM? TWO ROCKS, A JELLY DONUT, AND LEAVITT?” Newsom quipped in a put up on X.
Former nationwide safety official Miles Taylor recounted his expertise with Trump.
“I bear in mind the primary piece of recommendation I acquired on briefing President Trump in 2017: He doesn’t learn. Carry photos. Solely attempt to impress ONE factor on him. And if there needs to be phrases, single web page solely.“
Others piled on. “He actually can’t learn,” this Threads consumer identified. “You HAVE TO BE KIDDING. The person can barely learn. OMG. HOW SCABBY ARE HER KNEES??” Threads consumer Diane Jarrett scoffed.
One other agreed, “That she will be able to say this with a straight face is an indicator of how completely soulless she is. The absurd lies movement so simply.” One other stated bluntly, “Sweetie, he’ll nonetheless hearth you.”
Regardless of Leavitt’s try to border Trump as essentially the most well-read and knowledgeable individual within the room, that declare shortly runs into a really totally different actuality.
Simply hours after her podcast look, a report from Time detailed rising concern contained in the White Home, significantly from chief of workers Susie Wiles, about what data is definitely reaching the president.
If Trump is consuming as a lot information and knowledge as Leavitt suggests, it raises an apparent query: why would aides must current him with an excessively “rosy” model of occasions in any respect?
In line with the report, Wiles has turn into more and more alarmed by the path of the battle and the narrowing path ahead, with sources saying she believes aides have been presenting Trump with that softened model at the same time as opposition grows and the prices proceed to mount.
Extensively seen as one in every of Trump’s closest advisers, Wiles has reportedly urged workers to be “extra forthright with the boss,” warning that he’s not at all times being given a full and correct image of the dangers forward.
