In today’s back-and-forth match between the GOP nominees and a worn-down news media, suddenly it’s Advantage Trump. That’s because Donald Trump just told a rally that Hillary Clinton’s bodyguards “should drop all weapons — they should disarm.” Fair enough, Mr. Apprentice, but what about this little patented aside that followed? “Take their guns away! She doesn’t want guns. Let’s see what happens to her. Take their guns away, OK? It’d be very dangerous.”
To extend the tennis metaphor, Trump just slammed a two-fisted forehand down the media’s sideline, recovering control of the news cycle from this morning’s embarrassing backtrack when the Donald had to admit that the two-term American president actually was born in, you know, America. Of course, cable news immediately went to the panels, which had been convened to dissect the birther backpedal.
“I think this is in the category of what he said about the Second Amendment people taking care of Secretary Clinton,” Dem strategist Maria Cardona said on CNN, giving voice to what so many likely were thinking. “I think it’s vile. I think it’s putrid.”
Not so fast, Trump campaign senior adviser Boris Epshteyn countered. “He’s being sarcastic,” he said on Erin Burnett OutFront. “Just like he was being sarcastic when he said President Obama should get the MVP award from ISIS. Everyone should just ratchet it down a bit.”
And so it went, with much over-talking and finger pointing among those two and fellow panelists Basil Smikle, Outraged Clinton Supporter, and Kayleigh McEnany, Outraged Trump Backer. Result: Trump plays the media like a harpsichord yet again. Now let’s see what tomorrow — or perhaps the next hour — holds.
