POTUS needs social media policy
Afriend posted on social media last week an admission that he had voted for President Donald Trump. This isn’t earth-shattering news. Lots of folks did or he wouldn’t have the job. The friend then observed that it was clear Trump “is completely off his rocker” and pointed to recent feuds with talk news program hosts and CNN, adding that his behavior was “undignified.”
Recent tweets by Trump about Morning Joe hosts drew similar comments from many. In fact, I saw Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s response on Twitter before I saw Trump’s original tweet. Apparently, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have gotten deep into Trump’s craw. He has tweeted about them often, but the June 29 comments were worse than usual: “I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don’t watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came To Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year’s Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!”
Of course, photos of her visit to Mar-a-Lago from the time he referenced have emerged and she looked lovely. And people were horrified that someone in his position would stoop to such levels. Graham’s comment pretty much sums it up: “Mr. President, your tweet was beneath the office and represents what is wrong with American politics, not the greatness of America.”
Indeed. But he and his staff defended his comments and Trump blasted: “My use of social media is not Presidential – it’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again!” That was Trump’s post July 1 via Twitter. Trump has lamented why there are not more news reports on all of his administration’s accomplishments. My guess is that his behavior grabs headlines and he fuels the fire by constantly discussing non-issues and attacking people who criticize his tweets. Perhaps if he behaved like a statesman and showed respect for the traditional and historic office he holds, he would receive different attention. You
reap what you sow.
The Morning Joe feud heated up around the same time Trump released a video via Twitter of him wrestling a man with a CNN logo superimposed on his head. Trump tweeted the edited Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment video last Sunday morning. It was originally from a 2007 WWE match in which he appeared at the performance and body-slammed WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. These tweets are just the latest. The outrageousness is too extensive to cover in this space.
This is your president. This is not OK. It is embarrassing – and should not be acceptable, but some people are oblivious. How oblivious? Here’s an example: National Public Radio was criticized on Independence Day for its Twitter posts. The news organization tweeted the entire Declaration of Independence in 113 separate tweets (due to the length allowed in single posts). Patriotic gesture, in my opinion, but not to some. Ignorant of the Declaration and ways Britain’s George III had wronged the Colonies, people blasted NPR assuming they were being critical of Trump. “He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers,” reads one line of the Declaration. “A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people,” reads another. Those quotes from the Declaration struck a nerve, apparently – 241 years later. But it was due to the fact some people didn’t recognize what they were reading, which is about as sad and pathetic as Trump’s Twitter posts. To their credit, however, some who were critical later apologized to NPR and deleted the tweets.
Trump’s tweets are still out there, laced with hate, profanity and vitriol. Would you accept this of your children? Spouse? Employees? Most businesses and government agencies have social media policies these days outlining posts that will not be tolerated. Shouldn’t the president have boundaries, too?
He uses two Twitter accounts: @realDonaldTrump and @POTUS. There’s no need to rely on “fake news” reports of what he says. If you haven’t already, get a Twitter account and follow him. See for yourself what the leader of the free world has to say. No issue is too small, no argument too petty for him to offer comment. And you’ll have immediate access to those wrestling videos.
Shea Wilson is the former managing editor of the El Dorado News-Times. Email her at melsheawilson@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @sheawilson7.