John Wilkes Booth who?
President Donald Trump swan-dived into a whole new level of victimhood on Sunday night during a virtual Fox News town hall at the Lincoln Memorial.
“I am greeted with a hostile press, the likes of which no president has ever seen,” Trump complained to town hall hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.
“The closest would be that gentleman right up there,” he added, pointing at the the statue of Lincoln, who was shot to death. “They always said nobody got treated worse than Lincoln. I believe I am treated worse.”
Trump: "I believe I am treated worse" than Lincoln. pic.twitter.com/nOEROcuVoU
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) May 4, 2020
Trump’s complaint on Sunday was met with incredulity and (apparently necessary) reminders that Lincoln was assassinated:
I guess Trump never learned how Lincoln's presidency ended. https://t.co/Vp43RuMxhi
— Grant Stern (@grantstern) May 4, 2020
After attacking state governors at his Lincoln Memorial performance *ahem, I mean, interview, Trump proceeds to compare himself to Lincoln and say he is treated worse.
Not sure if he is predicting his own assassination here or what. pic.twitter.com/qPUq3DsOeu
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) May 4, 2020
When we shot a scene for Parks and Rec at the Lincoln Memorial, we were asked to stay below the top step out of a general reverence for the place and its meaning. But now Trump is sitting right next to Lincoln saying he has been treated worse, so all bets are off I guess?
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) May 4, 2020
I honestly don’t think that Trump knows that Lincoln was assassinated. Remember he’s the guy who wished us a “Happy Good Friday!”
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) May 4, 2020
Someone should put together clips of past reporters badgering presidents — Dan Rather tearing into Nixon, Sam Donaldson barking at Reagan, Helen Thomas doggedly going after Clinton, etc. etc.
The idea that Trump is being treated worse than them is ludicrous. Or Lincoln? Jesus. https://t.co/f6jrWZq6K6
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) May 4, 2020
When President Lincoln spoke at Gettysburg in 1863 he delivered a monumental speech for the ages aimed at uniting and healing a torn nation; when Donald Trump spoke at Gettysburg in 2016, he threatened to sue the many women who had accused him of sexual misconduct for defamation.
— Ted Boutrous (@BoutrousTed) May 4, 2020
Trump made the comment about 24 hours after making another dubious comparison between Lincoln and himself, claiming that he had done more for black Americans than the president who abolished slavery.
So true, although Honest Abe wasn’t bad. Thank you! https://t.co/Bb4736mgxa
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2020