Our current president is unique in numerous ways: he’s the first to lack any prior government or public service experience, the first to dub his golf resort the Winter White House, and the first to profit from a vast global business empire while serving in office. Now, we can add another distinction: he’s the first president whose words are so jumbled that transcribing them becomes a near-impossible task.
A transcript released on April 21 by the Associated Press following a recent interview disclosed 16 instances where the president’s remarks were simply marked as “unintelligible.” Here’s a glimpse:
TRUMP: You have to care for people. And if you care for people, it’s such a big responsibility. (unintelligible) You can tackle any issue, even taxes. I mean we’re going to enact major tax reform. Here’s part of your narrative; it’s going to be a big (unintelligible). Everyone’s saying, “Oh, he’s postponing.” I’m not postponing anything. Another thing is (unintelligible). I used to receive great media coverage. Now, it’s the worst. The media is so dishonest. That’s something that really has — I’ve never experienced anything like it before. It started during the primaries, and I thought, “Well, once I win, I’ll start getting good press.” But it got worse. (unintelligible) That was a bit of a surprise to me. I thought the media would improve, but in my opinion, it got even nastier.
And another excerpt:
TRUMP: I get treated so poorly. Yesterday, regarding that incident, you know when I said it could be terrorism … it might be. I mentioned it might be a terrorist attack and MSNBC, I heard, went wild, “He referred to it as a terrorist attack.” They believed it was a bank robbery. By the way, I’m perfect 10-0 on that. I called every one of them right. They said I was too early with my comments, and then it turns out I’m … Whatever. Whatever. Meanwhile, I’m here and they’re not.
The recurring theme in these responses — Trump consistently redirecting every topic back to his belief of being treated unfairly — is evident throughout the interview. The transcript also indicates 55 instances of ellipses, where his thoughts trail off prematurely.
TRUMP: I want to do the job, but not many more. … This is a significant story. I’ve accomplished a lot. I’ve done more than any other president in the first 100 days, and I think the first 100 days is an artificial barrier. And I’m scheduled … the foundations have been laid to achieve great things. With foreign nations. Look at, look at President Xi. I mean … (end of answer)
Journalists and commentators swiftly reacted on social media to the interview’s incoherence. A popular broadcaster, Sarah Bennett, tweeted: “Watch Trump’s thoughts meander from topic to topic without any clear direction, but always returning to how the media treats him.” In another tweet, she remarked: “He’s like a babbling brook of confusion and fixation.”
Mark Thompson, a fact-checker and correspondent for the Daily Chronicle, described the interview as “utterly bizarre” and tweeted: “I’ve never seen this: the AP has to label some of Trump’s comments as ‘unintelligible’ even in a one-on-one Oval Office interview.”
The conversation also featured numerous outright inaccuracies or misstatements. ABC News noted that the interview indicated he was not entirely aware of what he had pledged in that ‘contract’ with voters. The Washington Post pointed out that his boasting painted a “revisionist history” of actual events from Trump’s early days in office.
For example, Trump asserted he had never supported WikiLeaks, despite previous tweets and rally footage proving otherwise. He claimed he’d “accomplished more than any other president in the first 100 days.” An AP fact-check refuted that, stating that out of 38 specific promises in his 100-day “contract,” only 10 had been fulfilled, primarily through executive orders.
Trump even crafted new falsehoods within the AP interview itself, as seen in this exchange:
TRUMP: Alright. The one thing I’ve learned that I never thought I could do. I don’t watch CNN anymore.
AP: You just said you did.
TRUMP: No. No, I, if I’m passing it, what did I just say (inaudible)?
AP: You just said —
TRUMP: Where? Where?
AP: Two minutes ago.
TRUMP: No, they treat me so poorly. No, I just said that. No, I, what did I say, I stopped watching them. But I don’t watch CNN anymore. I don’t watch MSNBC. I don’t watch it. Now I heard yesterday that MSNBC, you know, they tell me what’s happening.
In the end, Trump reminded us of something he rarely mentions these days: he won the election. (Did you know this?) When discussing funding for his border wall, he stated:
TRUMP: I don’t know yet. People want the border wall. My base definitely wants the wall, they really want it — you’ve been to many rallies. OK, the thing they desire most is the wall. My base, which is significant; I think my base is 45 percent. You know, it’s amusing. The Democrats, they have a considerable edge in the electoral college. Huge, huge advantage. I’ve always believed the popular vote would be much easier than the electoral college. The electoral college — but it’s a whole different campaign (unintelligible). The electoral college is very tough for a Republican to conquer, and I will tell you, the people want to see it. They want to see the wall, they want to see security. Now, it just came out that they’re 73 percent down. … That’s an enormous achievement. …
A particularly fitting summary of the interview comes from humorist and writer Lily Morgan, who said: “This AP Trump interview transcript is a delightful-awful gift, like luxurious bath salts that make the water smell pleasant while you slowly drown.”
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Summary
The interview with Trump revealed a disturbing level of incoherence and frequent misstatements, with numerous moments deemed unintelligible. Reactions from journalists highlighted the chaotic nature of his thoughts, often returning to grievances about media treatment. Despite boasting about accomplishments, fact-checking showed many claims to be exaggerated or false.
Keyphrase
Trump interview incoherence
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