Trump gives bizarre Rush Limbaugh interview, claims Israel used to the “King of Congress”
Donald Trump went on right-wing demagogue and frequent conspiracy theory peddler Rush Limbaugh’s show today and the results were every bit as unhinged as one would expect from a conversation between two such aged, deranged Republican blowhards. CNN’s Daniel Dale wrote up a Twitter thread of some of the most ridiculous lies and bizarre claims made by Trump.
Naturally, Limbaugh and the president discussed Trump’s unilateral and momentous decision last week to eliminate Iranian Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani in a targeted strike in Iraq. The assassination has infuriated Iran, the country’s leaders promise retribution, and the specter of a possible war between the United States and the Islamic Republic now looms.
Limbaugh said on his show that people shouldn’t be so worried about “World War III” and while he’s right that people should slow down and moderate their doomsday prognostications until we have a better sense of what comes next, he conveniently ignored the fact that people are worried about such a conflict because the American president is an impulsive, incompetent goon. The current atmosphere of dread would not exist were it not for Donald Trump.
Trump is on Rush Limbaugh. Rush complains people are being irrationally frightened of "World War III." He asks Trump to explain why the Soleimani killing "makes us safer." Trump says this should've been done for 15 or 20 years, calls him "a terrorist."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 6, 2020
Trump went on to slam the Obama administration’s posture towards Iran and even went so far as to suggest that former Secretary of State John Kerry should be prosecuted under the Logan Act which forbids private citizens from conducting diplomacy with foreign governments. Daniel Dale pointed out in his tweet that Kerry’s team adamantly denies that he has been carrying on back-channel negotiations with Iran since leaving the State Department.
Trump accuses the Obama administration of “appeasement.” He says he’d “love” to see John Kerry prosecuted under the Logan Act for his relationship with Iran. Kerry aides have said Trump is wrong that Kerry has continued to talk to Iran in 2019. https://t.co/6FIPOAIJZj
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 6, 2020
At one point, Trump made the bizarre claim that five years ago Israel was “The King of Congress” and that Congress “protected and fought for Israel.” Trump claims that this alleged change happened because some Democrats are anti-semitic, as bad faith a smear as one can imagine considering that his claim that Israel was “King” of Congress is very similar to the white nationalist conspiracy theory that Jews secretly run the U.S. government. In other words, Trump was accusing others of anti-semitism while simultaneously spreading an anti-semitic canard.
Trump says that five years ago, Israel was “the King of the Congress. Our Congress protected Israel and fought for Israel.” He claims that now it is different and that various Democrats are anti-Semitic.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 6, 2020
Before long, Trump’s erratic mind and infamously short attention span had him once again complaining about the Mueller report. He lied, stating that the investigation cost the American taxpayers $45 million. As Dale pointed out the cost was roughly $32 million with an expectation that the U.S. government will get $17 million of that back. On top of that, it’s worth pointing out that Trump’s claims of caring about government expenditures completely fall apart when one realizes that he has spent over $120,000,000 in tax dollars on his golfing habit alone.
Trump falsely claims the Mueller investigation cost $45 million, “and much more than that.” It was $32 million, per official figures, and the government expects to recoup $17 million.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 6, 2020
The president went on to claim that Democrats are breaking the law by refusing to send the articles of impeachment passed in the House to the Senate just yet. Speaker Pelosi has made it clear that she is reluctant to do so until Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell guarantees an unbiased trial, a reasonable decision on her part given McConnell’s public admission that he intends to work with the White House to sink impeachment.
Asked why he thinks Democrats are not transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate, Trump says they are “trying to affect the election, illegally.” It’s not illegal to not transmit articles of impeachment.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 6, 2020
The Limbaugh interview rounded up with Trump claiming that during a dinner with Mark Zuckerberg the social media titan congratulated him and told him he is “#1 on Facebook,” whatever that means. The odd, borderline nonsensical brag is par for the course at this point.
Trump: “I had dinner with Mark Zuckerberg the other day…and he said, ‘I’d like to congratulate you: you’re #1 on Facebook.'”
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 6, 2020
Donald Trump is an unwell man and these rambling interviews will surely stun future generations. The Republican Party is willfully ignoring how clearly unfit to lead this man is and history will despise them for it.
This is a staff report from former Occupy Democrats Editor in Chief Colin Taylor or contributor Rob Haffney.