To ask Trump supporters how they defend this?

snugsnug1 · 2025-01-31T14:18:08+00:00

To be blunt, I don't understand how anyone can stand this guy. Nothing on earth would convince me to vote for him (I'm American), but he seems to have a surprising level of support on here. Over 60 people died, including a sickening number of children. How is this ok? *“I have a plan to visit, not the site. Because you tell me, what’s the site? The water? You want me to go _[[https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/washington-dc-plane-crash-30-bodies-recovered-from-river-russian-skating-couple-among-victims-10-things-to-know-11738231200746.html swimming]]_?” Donald Trump responded during a White House press briefing on Thursday. The latest tragic mishap marks the deadliest US air disaster in two decades. *

Mittens67 · 01/02/2025 18:13

Jom222 · 31/01/2025 17:02

there is no defense for trump. I'm american (old timer union democrat, bleed blue) and when he ran the 1st time I was horrified viewing the presidential debates and my H laughed and said oh it won't go anywhere.

Then he won. All the ugliness normal people usually hid was on full display, hate and racism was trendy. Very early on I felt like we were watching the emperors new clothes, the broad acceptance NO-JOY when he said/did evil things was frankly terrifying. (This is completely ignoring the deep stupidity.)

The worst part isn't him. Its the people I know, work with, am friends with, the ones I love who adore him. They're gleeful at the suffering their hateful policies create. But when it affects them look out-they scream bloody murder. The hypocrisy is incredible.

I shut my fb account about halfway thru his 1st term, I was getting attacked by my own siblings. Easier to walk away from the hate. I curate my online life carefully now to avoid hate and propaganda.

I'm old enough to remember being taught in school 'consider the source' when reading anything. Who wrote this, why, is there a purpose to it etc. Now if its in a meme or on twitter it must be true, esp if it reinforces what I already think about a subject.

There is no defense for him. He represents hate. I shudder to think what will happen here in the next 4 years and further, the long term consequences. We actively hate schools, teachers are evil now, librarians are routinely attacked. We worship ultra wealthy who laugh and laugh at how stupid we all are. (well I don't but it seems most do)

Sorry to write a novel but I'd like to say a sizable number of americans despise him. I'd pray for him to die but his next in command is so much worse. I think I'll go have a cry now.

There is NO DEFENSE FOR TRUMP

Thank you for this excellent post.
I am terrified and depressed by Trump et al and I am in the UK. No idea how I would cope if he was in charge of my country.
He has turned over the rock hiding all the very worst of humanity and restyled it as admirable patriotism.
How will this all end?
To answer the OP, people rarely actually directly defend Trump’s awful pronouncements. They either say it was taken out of context, or made up or something similar.
I can’t think of anything which could justify a “joke” about swimming to pay respects to people who have died and their bodies are being pulled out of the water.

CatLady476 · 01/02/2025 17:48

Sorry should have said, I don't agree with @SassK

CatLady476 · 01/02/2025 17:48

I don't agree. If someone loses their temper and makes such gauche incautious comments when they have a little rough and tumble with a reporter, how will they cope with the severe provocation they will experience from bad actors or an authoritarian regime? Anyone in a position of power needs a very cool head and iron self control.

Thatissimplyuntrue · 01/02/2025 17:45

SassK · 01/02/2025 16:29

Well, it's authentic 🤷‍♀️ Anyone who reaches the dizzy heights of leading a country has to be ruthless; incredibly so. Trump doesn't pretend he's not.
We've all, at one point or another, wanted to tell someone at work to do one. It doesn't make us intrinsically bad people! We're all allowed a bad day.
I think there's a desire amongst people for authenticity in their government.

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He is indeed very authentic and transparent. It is very clear that he is intrinsically arrogant, narcissistic, stupid, callous, dysregulated, sexually predatory, cold, self-absorbed, self-serving, etc. He doesn’t try to hide any of this.

SassK · 01/02/2025 16:29

snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 11:07

That's part of my point. I'm not the president. I expect someone in his position to have more public self-control, to be able to be consoling when needed and clear-headed at difficult moments. Dealing with opposition and stress is a necessary part of the job. Trump supporters don't seem to expect the same, so I'm trying to understand why they're not bothered by it.

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Well, it's authentic 🤷‍♀️ Anyone who reaches the dizzy heights of leading a country has to be ruthless; incredibly so. Trump doesn't pretend he's not.
We've all, at one point or another, wanted to tell someone at work to do one. It doesn't make us intrinsically bad people! We're all allowed a bad day.
I think there's a desire amongst people for authenticity in their government.

StandFirm · 01/02/2025 14:06

meh2025 · 01/02/2025 05:30

But my point is can you show why they are being sacked? Perhaps they are incompetent? You seem sure they are being sacked for being apolitical and doing their jobs, I just wondered how you knew that.

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And also, who is replacing them? Anyone at all? What are the implications for US security?

Thatissimplyuntrue · 01/02/2025 12:17

fanaticalfairy · 31/01/2025 14:33

He's just saying he won't go to the water site, but stay in land... What's the problem?

If you can’t see it then you have an empathy deficit.

tamade · 01/02/2025 12:14

snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 11:12

If I were interested in scoring political points, this is not the topic I'd turn to. And part of my point, as I said in my reply above, is that I expect a president to be able to handle journalists asking adversarial questions in times of stress with some self-control and a calm head. I don't want the president to be getting adversarial with a journalist when he should be focussed on the bigger picture of the victims and the situation.

I am not the President with a microphone to the world. By your metric we shouldn't discuss any world leader's response to any situation? Gaza? Off-limits?

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Well if the whole point of your thread is’Trump is disagreeable’ I agree with you.

but it’s not is it? The whole tone is that he made a bad taste joke for the sake of it, which I don’t think is the case.

RingoJuice · 01/02/2025 11:47

ShamblesRock · 01/02/2025 11:05

Has anyone actually defended it? Even if someone did vote for trump that doesn't mean they have to 100% agree with everything he says.

And it would be a mistake to assume Trump supporters are okay with everything he says and does.

He pushed back on strict abortion bans and the Xtian part of his base howled. Like, they were livid and spread their dissatisfaction widely (I happen to agree with him on that point)

Another as I had mentioned was the ‘stapling green cards to diplomas’ suggestion which is totally dumb and his staff had to walk back due to the outcry 😂

This isn’t a bad trait in a politician

ShamblesRock · 01/02/2025 11:28

Trump supporters don't seem to expect the same, so I'm trying to understand why they're not bothered by it.

How do you know they're not bothered?

Original poster

snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 11:12

tamade · 01/02/2025 05:52

I found a video clip of the interview on CNN, it starts about half a question before he makes the comment above. It seems like a bad tempered adversarial interview with the journalist talking over his responses. I’m guessing the swimming comment was made out of temper.

so I’d say it should not have been said but it’s not that he was trying to get cheap laughs from a tragic situation. So not as bad as is being made out and not as bad as the text reads.

was the journalist hoping to provoke something like this? Perhaps. Is that at least as shameful? What about those using comments once removed from this tragic accident to score political points is that any better? @snugsnug1

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If I were interested in scoring political points, this is not the topic I'd turn to. And part of my point, as I said in my reply above, is that I expect a president to be able to handle journalists asking adversarial questions in times of stress with some self-control and a calm head. I don't want the president to be getting adversarial with a journalist when he should be focussed on the bigger picture of the victims and the situation.

I am not the President with a microphone to the world. By your metric we shouldn't discuss any world leader's response to any situation? Gaza? Off-limits?

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Original poster

snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 11:07

SassK · 01/02/2025 05:33

He gave a stupid answer to a stupid question. You've answered several questions (you perceive as such on this thread) in the same way (ie with sarcasm). The difference between Trump and other leaders is that he vents his frustration at reporters unguarded, others would wait until they're off mic.

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That's part of my point. I'm not the president. I expect someone in his position to have more public self-control, to be able to be consoling when needed and clear-headed at difficult moments. Dealing with opposition and stress is a necessary part of the job. Trump supporters don't seem to expect the same, so I'm trying to understand why they're not bothered by it.

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ShamblesRock · 01/02/2025 11:05

Has anyone actually defended it? Even if someone did vote for trump that doesn't mean they have to 100% agree with everything he says.

Original poster

snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 11:02

StaxAttacks · 01/02/2025 05:20

I’m not a Trump supporter or defender, and I find those comments crass, and quite vile.

But at the same time OP, your question is inane. In a democracy people don’t have to defend who they vote for to anyone else.

Your sanctimonious “look how shit he is” with the embedded implication of how great you are is really dull and people won’t engage with you. Why should they?

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If you're saying that my OP was implying that I believe him to be shit, you're quite right. Your conclusion that it's sanctimonious with an embedded implication of how 'great' I am is your reading. Are we 10?

In a democracy people don’t have to defend who they vote for to anyone else.

Quite right. Which means that anyone not interested in discussing it, whether to defend their vote or not is very free to scroll on by. As I said previously, I'm not coming to anyone's house and banging on the door and screaming demands in their face. I'm posting a question on a website.

If you ask me, it's the chiding for daring ask a question that's sanctimonious.

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snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 10:55

HoppingPavlova · 01/02/2025 04:57

So it follows that I shouldn't, as a dual citizen, be interested in how people who are on here, who support him, see this?

You can do whatever you like but ….. why? Maybe 100% of Mumsnet will say he’s a dick and they can’t stand him. Maybe 100% of Mumsnet will say he’s the best thing since sliced bread. What does it matter either way? He was elected as President of the USA in a democratic society. Whatever Mumsnet thinks either way is not going to change the fact he’s in that position and it certainly won’t change anything he does. Or, are you planning, as a dual-citizen, to send him a letter informing him of the Mumsnet output so he can take it under consideration?

Edited

So curiosity doesn't play into your world view at all?

By that metric, why are you on this site at all? At least 95% of the threads are related to something you have no control over at all.

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snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 10:51

Momtotwokids · 01/02/2025 03:47

You should really worry about your own country. No one seemed bothered when Biden was incompetent or walked around not knowing what he was doing. Trump hopefully will get our country back on track. Men don't need to be in women's bathrooms or sports. We need to take care of our citizens not illegals who come here and cause serious trouble.

I'm American, so I am worrying about my own country, thanks.

Do you have an opinion on what he said?

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snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 10:50

Winamy192 · 01/02/2025 03:32

Although this is awful - I'm more concerned about the abortion rights that he wants to take away (I know it's already happened but it's going to get worse) no exceptions etc I feel so so so sad for all women in the USA - it's like their rights are being stripped and the law is going backwards not forwards. And these laws and decisions are put in place by men!!!

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That was part of my point. I'm deeply concerned about all of that, which are obviously the real issues, but are part of the current political divide. I'm on the other side of the fence on pretty much all of those.

I was just shocked by the appalling crassness of this and how unnecessary it was.

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snugsnug1 · 01/02/2025 10:44

MsReacher2025 · 31/01/2025 20:18

Are you genuinely wondering how it wd feel to have a "loved one" involved?? Or are you using the tragedy to score more points about a politician you hate?

What he said was a response ... probably to a jibe or a heckle or a sneery "question" - and likely designed to put down an aggressive questioner rather than as a message to the victims' families. But I haven't clicked your link as I don't care.

Is it really so hard to imagine that as a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend (who has spent a lot of time in Washington and flown into that airport many times) I can easily put myself in the shoes of those people at the other end of this horrible accident? I have my own political opinions which I'm free to form at will. I don't need to use anything to 'score points against him'. I would, however, find this extremely distasteful coming from a politician I supported.

Yes, I was a response to a reporter, doing their job.

So, your answer to my original question is that you don't need to justify it because you'll ignore it? That's fine, it's what I was trying to understand.

Thanks.

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ShamblesRock · 01/02/2025 09:26

Dh did ask him a bit about it and it's largely to do with illegal Immigration and how dangerous the area he lives in now feels.

Surely they are fairly legitimate concerns? When people feel disenfranchised and that the current party do nothing for them they are going to vote in the opposite.in this case Trump was saying what they wanted to hear.

ShamblesRock · 01/02/2025 09:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I'm not a Trump supporter, but if I was comments like this would just make me dig my heels in more. Though I guess it is just "Left is all good, Right is all bad" that we see in the UK, just on steroids.

How the left think they are going to win hearts and minds when all they seem to do is sling mud shots beats me.

triggers34 · 01/02/2025 08:33

Dh has a friend who is dual nationality and lives in Austin. He said he'd be moving back to the uk if Trump didn't get in.
He's lost many Facebook friends over his support of Trump. my husband and I don't get it, the support not the loss of friends.
Dh did ask him a bit about it and it's largely to do with illegal Immigration and how dangerous the area he lives in now feels.

BettyBardMacDonald · 01/02/2025 06:28

fanaticalfairy · 31/01/2025 14:33

He's just saying he won't go to the water site, but stay in land... What's the problem?

Are you serious???

meh2025 · 01/02/2025 06:18

Extiainoiapeial · 01/02/2025 06:13

I am not your secretary and I don't have hours to go and search for the information you require.

He has said enough times in interviews that he was unfairly treated, and the J6ers were just patriots , they didn't do anything wrong. . However you defend him all you like. Thousands are on his list and if it happens I find it hilarious that they are all incompetent and oh what a coincidence they happen to be the ones who dealt with the j6's 🤣

I am not your secretary and I don't have hours to go and search for information on the claims you have made. If you cannot back them, that's fine, I will have to assume they are incorrect until such time as evidence emerges.

So, as only 6 are apparently being told to stand down or be sacked, we will find out once that has happened the reasons given and if he sacks more we can look at that too.

I prefer facts over feelings, particularly when making accusations.

CatLady476 · 01/02/2025 06:14

I see what's happening in the USA as a very strong cautionary tale: we must not let the far right get into our thinking or UK politics. Whatever your views on gender, think about who is manipulating conversation on those issues - the far right does not give a damn about the safety of women and girls.

I am not religious but I liked the talk Bishop Budde gave: calling for mercy sounded like the voice of sanity. If someone has all the money and power in the world but does not act out of empathy and care for their fellow human beings, then what are you doing following them? My grandfather fought the fascists in WW2 - I bet I'm not the only Brit here with that legacy. The amount of hate speech coming out of the US now is sending up a million red flags with me.

Extiainoiapeial · 01/02/2025 06:13

I am not your secretary and I don't have hours to go and search for the information you require.

He has said enough times in interviews that he was unfairly treated, and the J6ers were just patriots , they didn't do anything wrong. . However you defend him all you like. Thousands are on his list and if it happens I find it hilarious that they are all incompetent and oh what a coincidence they happen to be the ones who dealt with the j6's 🤣